A goal on a penalty kick in the 89th minute by Mauro Biello lifted the Montreal Impact to a 1-0 win over the Minnesota Thunder. The game, played in front of 11,952 spectators, was the last regular season home game for the Impact.
The first half saw both teams play conservatively. The Impact fielded many reserve players in an effort to rest the regulars for the upcoming playoffs. Montreal had the first chances in the 6th minute when Gabriel Gervais shot three consecutive times on goal from close range following a corner. His two first shots were blocked by Thunder keeper Joe Warren and he blasted the third one well over the bar. Not to be outdone, Johnny Menyongar followed this a minute later by a great display going around two Impact players before letting go a weak shot from just inside the box that Impact keeper Greg Sutton easily scooped up. The play got a lot rougher in the 11th minute when David Di Placido and Tighe Dombrowski jostled in front of the Impact net. Both were yellow carded by the referee who did not stand for any nonsense the entire game. Dombrowski had the next chance for Minnesota sending a bullet from 25 yards out just over the bar in the 17th minute. Antonio Ribeiro had perhaps Montreal's best chance of the half when he sent a hard low shot from just outside the box that gave Warren a great deal of trouble. Montreal had another decent chance in the 34th minute when Carlos Garcia fooled a Thunder defender and went in on a two on one with Darko Kolic. Garcia's great pass was intercepted before Kolic could get to it. Both teams traded harmless shots until the 42nd minute when the Thunder had their best chance of the game. Dombrowski once again was fed a great pass and sent a howitzer from 20 yards out that fooled Sutton. Luckily for Montreal Gervais cleared the ball off the line.
The Impact made three changes to start the second half bringing in regulars Biello, Charles Gbeke and Nevio Pizzolitto. Ribeiro continued his solid play getting several chances but shooting twice over the bar in the 55th and 60th minute. Gbeke headed a great ball wide just one minute later. Both teams played rough and were rewarded with yellow cards throughout the half. Montreal's best chance of the half came in the 76th minute when Biello shot from close range at Warren who juggled the ball before making the save. Minnesota was frustrating the Montreal attack time and again and seemed poised to pull off a draw when the sky fell in. With Ribeiro streaking towards the goal, Kevin Wilson body checked him in the box right in front of the referee who immediately pointed to the spot. Thunder players protested vehemently but to no avail. Biello stepped up and sent a low drive to the left of Warren. The Thunder keeper got a piece of the ball but it still went in. Montreal 1 Minnesota 0.
With just a couple of minutes of injury time added on, the rough play continued and Wilson was ejected with only a few seconds to play.
Montreal will now play its final two regular season games on the road in Seattle and Vancouver next weekend. The Impact will have a bye until the semi-finals of the playoffs due to their finishing first overall in the standings.
Game notes: Adam Braz played with the Canadian National team last night in a friendly game against Spain and was not in uniform today. Jason Di Tullio's season is finished after damaging his knee in a game last week. He will require surgery and will miss the last two games and playoffs.
Lineups:
Montreal- Greg Sutton (GK), Gabriel Gervais (Nevio Pizzolitto 46),Andrew Hainault, Mauricio Vincello, David Fronimadis, Adrian Cann (Patrick Leduc 59), David Di Placido (Lars Lyssand 78),Masahiro Fukasawa, Antonio Ribeiro, Darko Kolic (Mauro Biello 46), Carlos Garcia (Charles Gbeke 46). Substitutes not used: Andrew Olivieri (GK), Mesut Mert.
Minnesota- Joe Warren (GK), Chad Dombrowski, Nathan Knox, Mike Wilson, Freddy Suarez, Tighe Dombrowski, Matt Schmidt, Kevin Frieland (Kiki Lara 85), Godfrey Tenoff (Jeff Mateo 72), Aaron Paye, Johnny Menyongar. Substitutes not used: Nick Platter (GK).
Goals: Biello (PK) (89)
Cautions:
Montreal-Di Placido (11), Ribeiro (43), Fronimadis (71), Pizzolitto (83).
Minnesota: Tigre Dombrowski (11), Tennoff (56), Suarez (66).
Expulsions:
Montreal-None
Minnesota-Wilson (90+)
Conditions: Sunny, 20 degrees Celsius. Field dry.
Attendance: 11,952
Three stars: 1) Biello 2) Ribeiro 3) Warren
