A regular season record crowd of 12,086 witnessed a scoreless draw between the Montreal Impact and the Rochester Raging Rhinos. The game was Montreal's home opener and was played on a beautiful warm sunny afternoon.
While the weather was pleasant, the play on the field was anything but. Tackles were flying throughout the game as these two sides refused to concede an inch to the other. Billy Sedgewick led the rough play for Rochester hammering Patrick Leduc and Ali Gerba on numerous occasions. He collided into Eduardo Sebrango in the 12th minute causing the Impact forward to leave the pitch. Sebrango went back shortly only to have to come off once more a few minutes later clutching his left hamstring. After receiving treatment on the sidelines Sebrango surprised most of the crowd by coming back on. Sedgewick continued to tackle any player in a blue and white uniform until the referee had had enough and gave him a yellow card in the 30th minute after he collided with Leduc for the third time in the afternoon. Anthony Ribeiro, sitting on the substitute's bench took exception to the hit and went after Sedgewick. The referee cautioned him as well. Meanwhile the only player trying to score goals was Gerba who had several chances in the half. After shooting weakly towards Rhinos keeper Dusty Hudock in the 35th minute, Gerba was sent on a breakaway a minute later but was stopped in the box by a terrific last minute tackle by Rhinos defender Frankie Sanfillipppo. The crowd went wild expecting the referee to call a penalty but Sanfillippo had clearly hit the ball before Gerba went down. Gerba had a final chance in extra time when he took advantage of a Rochester defensive miscue and sent a low shot directly at Hudock.
In the second half both teams tightened up defensively and clogged up the midfield in an effort to slow the play down. Rhinos midfielder Johnny Steele had a chance in the 60th minute when he was fed a great pass but he only tapped the ball which was easily scooped up by Impact keeper Greg Sutton. Gerba had another chance for Montreal in the 65th minute when he got into the Rhinos box and shot at Hudock who lost control of the ball. The ball was cleared away from danger before any Impact player could capitalize. Rochester coach Laurie Calloway made a tactical move by subbing out both his forwards and replacing them with midfielders in an effort to stifle the Impact attack. This produced very dull defensive play from both sides. Surprisingly, Rochester had the two best chances of the half when Kirk Wilson was fed a great pass and sent on a breakaway in the 79th minute. He outran two Impact defenders but ran out of steam just inside the box allowing the defenders to catch him. Instead of shooting he made a harmless pass to no one in particular and the play fizzled out. The Rhinos had one final chance in the 88th minute when Sutton ran out to clear a ball just outside his box and missed only to have the ball trickle past him. Impact forward Kevin Wilson tapped the ball out of harm's way before Sutton pounced on it. In stoppage time, substitute John Ball sent a low hard shot that was smothered by Sutton.
Impact coach was happy with his team's effort blaming a lot of the miscues on opening day jitters. When asked about the great turnout he simply said "it is excellent. Incredible."
The Impact next play on Friday June 3rd when they host the Toronto Lynx who are currently last in the USL 1st division.
Game notes: The crowd was the 2nd largest in Impact history after the 13,648 who attended the A-League (now USL 1st division) final last year against the Seattle Sounders. Six Impact players were selected by Canadian World Cup team head coach Frank Yallop to take part in a training camp in Florida from June 4-9. They are: goalkeeper Andrew Olivieri, defenders Adam Braz and Gabriel Gervais, midfielders Mesut Mert and Patrick Leduc and forward Ali Gerba.
Lineups:
Montreal-Greg Sutton (GK), Nevio Pizzolitto, Adam Braz, Mauricio Vincello, Lars Lyssand, Patrick Leduc, Ze Roberto, Masahiro Fukasawa (Mesut Mert 80), Ali Gerba, Mauro Biello (Antonio Ribeiro 71), Eduardo Sebrango (Kevin Wilson 60). Subs not used: Andrew Olivieri (GK), Gabriel Gervais, Adrian Cann, Darko Kolic.
Rochester-Dusty Hudock (GK), Tenywa Bonseu, Frankie Sanfillippo, Scott Schweitzer, Billy Sedgewick, Kirk Wilson, Rene Rivas, Jonathan Bolanos, Johnny Steele (Stoian Mladenov 82), Tony Rougier (Pato Aguilera 74), Doug Miller (John Ball 51). Subs not used: Scott Vallow (GK), Jason Perry, Jamel Mitchell.
Goals: None
Cautions:
Montreal: Ribeiro (30)
Rochester: Bonseu (27), Sedgewick (30), Rivas (41)
Ejections: None
Attendance: 12,086
Conditions: Warm and sunny
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