Goals by Eduardo Sebrango and Ze Roberto powered the Montreal Impact to a 2-0 victory over the Calgary Mustangs in front of 9,752 spectators. The game which was played on a hot muggy night was totally dominated by Montreal who outshot Calgary 17-5 and who could have easily scored several more goals if not for the solid play of Mustangs keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel.
Montreal got into groove almost immediately when Roberto headed a shot just wide of the net at the 4th minute following a corner. In the 8th minute, Antonio Ribeiro pushed up the middle of the pitch and sent a beautiful pass to Fred Commodore who was just a step offside. Montreal swarmed the Calgary net in the next few minutes but was constantly denied by Pfannenstiel. In the 14th minute Commodore had another great chance but shot weakly at the Calgary keeper who had no trouble making stopping the ball. Sandro Grande also tested the Calgary keeper when he sent a rocket from 25 yards out that Pfannenstiel punched away with great difficulty. The next three minutes saw constant Montreal pressure with Commodore again missing a great opportunity. Montreal found the back of the net in the 23rd minute on a great play by Grande. The midfielder sent a long pass from the centre circle to Sebrango who outran a Mustang defender and slotted a low shot to the right of Pfannenstiel. Montreal 1 Calgary 0.
Just two minutes later Commodore was fed a terrific pass in the box but launched the ball well over the net. Calgary's first shot on goal came only in the 29th minute when Conrad Smith went around several Montreal defenders but unleashed a weak shot that Montreal keeper Andrew Olivieri easily scooped up. Montreal clogged up their zone preventing any Mustangs players to shoot effectively until the 40th minute when Steffen Holdt sent a solid shot on Olivieri who made the save. Montreal's second goal came in the 44th minute when Sebrango, coming in on the left, sent a great cross into the box that Roberto tapped in for the score. Montreal 2 Calgary 0.
Montreal made two changes at the half in an effort to give several players some playing time. Calgary had the best chance in the early part of the second half. Olivieri made a spectacular save off a header by Argentinean Walter Otta in the 50th minute. After that play, Montreal pretty much had the best chances with Roberto coming close to adding to his goal total in the 54th minute. Commodore once again missed opportunities in the 62nd and 68th minute sending the ball well wide in the first instance and having his shot stopped by Pfannenstiel in the second. In between those plays substitute Darko Kolic had a great chance in the 65th minute when he squeezed past two defenders and sent a low hard shot that Pfannenstiel just managed to kick out. Calgary made only one substitution bringing in Uruguayan forward Ernesto Zapata in the 70th minute but could not muster any more chances. Final score, Montreal 2 Calgary 0.
After the game Impact coach Nick De Santis was happy with the win but was already looking ahead the team's away match against Atlanta saying, "We're in first place but we have a huge game in Atlanta" With Greg Sutton suspended following a red card in Syracuse, the Impact started 23 year old backup keeper Olivieri who when asked about his first ever start simply said, "I'm really happy we played well."
Notes: The Impact will play in Atlanta on Saturday but will then play the next six games at home. Chris Lemire, who was on loan to the Edmonton Aviators, has been brought by the Impact but did not dress for tonight's game.
Lineups:
Montreal: Olivieri (GK), Gervais, Pizzolitto, Vincello (Barker 46), Braz, Grande, Roberto, Lavrynenko (Leduc 46), Ribeiro (Selaidopoulos 80), Commodore (Cann 74), Sebrango (Kolic 60). Substitutes not used: Argento (GK), Biello.
Calgary: Pfannenstiel (GK), Peznecker, Castrillon, Auvigne, Gillespie, Brusselers, Holdt, Zuniga, Mert, Otta, Smith (Zapata 70). Substitutes not used: Robinson (GK), Chala, Sestito.
Goals: Sebrango (Montreal 23), Robert (Montreal 44).
Cautions: Brusselers (Calgary 16), Vincello (Montreal 30), Ribeiro (Montreal 74)
Ejections: None
Conditions: Hot and very humid. Field Dry
Attendance: 9, 752
