A goal by Sandro Grande in the 52nd minute lifted the Montreal Impact to a 1-0 win over the Rochester Rhinos in front of 9,078 screaming spectators. The game was totally dominated by the Rhinos but the Montreal defense and keeper Greg Sutton proved their worth over the 90 minutes.
The first half proved to be a dull affair with both teams clogging up the midfield content to send long balls to strikers. A Montreal free kick from just outside the box was easily scooped up by Rhinos keeper Theo Zagar in the 13th minute. Rochester had a chance in the 30th minute when Bill Sedgewick sent a lob from 40 yards out on to Sutton who easily made the save. Montreal had easily the best chance of the half when forward Joel Bailey shot just wide to the right of the net from inside the box in the 44th minute.
Fouls and yellow cards were the order of the day in the second half with both teams playing physically. The Rhinos swarmed the Montreal box in the first few minutes of the half but could not get anything started. The Montreal goal was scored after Montreal had soaked up the pressure for many minutes. Bailey passed from the left to Grande who unleashed a rocket from 35 yards out that deflected off a defender and into the net. Zagar was totally caught off guard and furious with his defenders. Montreal 1 Rochester 0.
Rochester stepped up the pressure in the next few minutes. Sedgewick sent a bullet from 35 yards out that forced Sutton to dive in order to steer the ball clear. In the 57th minute Noah Delgado sent a wicked shot from just outside the box that Sutton punched out. Rochester had two more great chances in the half when two Rhinos tested Sutton with headers following a corner in the 73rd minute. The Montreal keeper finally scooped up the ball to end the threat. In the 76th minute, substitute Jefferson Dargout standing three feet from Sutton, was fed a great cross but missed the ball by a couple of inches. Montreal had a final chance in the 77th minute when Antonio Ribeiro sent a terrific shot from inside the box that Zagar steered wide. In the 90th minute Chris Carrieri, who had been substituted out eight minutes earlier, was given a red card for arguing with the fourth official. Final score Montreal 1 Rochester 0.
Lineups:
Montreal-Sutton (GK), Gervais, Pizzolitto, Vincello, Braz, Grande, Ze Roberto, Leduc (Ribeiro 66), Bailey (Lavrynenko 89), Sebrango (Commodore 85), Biello (Williams 77). Substitutes not used: Olivieri (GK), Barker, Kolic.
Rochester-Zagar (GK), Demmin, Mendes (Miller 67), Wright, John Wilson, Delgado (Trout 57), Sedgewick, Kirk Wilson, Steenkamp (Tsakiris 65), Woolfolk (Dargout 72), Carrieri (Allnut 82). Substitutes not used: Johnson (GK), Pilarski.
Goals: Grande (Montreal 52)
Cautions:
Rochester-Wright (13), Sedgewick (74).
Montreal-Pizzolitto (41), Grande (58), Biello (70) Braz (80).
Ejections:
Rochester-Carrieri (90)
Montreal-None
Conditions: Warm (25 degrees Celsius) and rainy. Field wet.
Attendance: 9,078
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