The Impact U23 remains undefeated in four games The Impact’s U23 side continues its preparation towards its first ever season in PDL, undefeated in the Quebec university championship. After four games played, the Impact U23 has recorded three wins and one tie. Following a 2-1 victory in Sherbrooke, the Impact blanked McGill 2-0 and then played to a 1-1 draw with UQAM, at the Marie-Victorin Sports Complex. In its most recent matchup, Philippe Eullaffroy’s squad earned a 2-0 shutout win last Sunday, against UQTR in Trois-Rivières. Frédéric Lajoie-Gravelle and Kevin Luarca scored in the win, while U18 goalkeeper Erhan Ylmaz played well to earn the shutout. However, head coach Eullaffroy was not entirely pleased with how his side played the game. http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2014/02/impact-u23-remains-undefeated-four-games
2014 Montreal Impact Preview: Fighting off Father Time for one more year Last ride? Unless Marco Di Vaio has discovered the Fountain of Youth and become totally Preki-fied, it's hard to imagine he'll be as good this year as he was last year. That doesn't mean I'm not rooting for him, though – he's one of the few field players left in the world who's older than I am. Please do it for Generation X, Marco! http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...ghting-father-time-one-more-year-armchair-ana
Heath Pearce joins the Impact 29 year-old brings experience and soccer savviness to team MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Thursday that it has come to terms on a deal with American defender Heath Pearce. As per MLS policy, details of the contract were not disclosed. Pearce, 29, has played five seasons in MLS, totaling 106 regular season games, including 100 starts and 9,060 minutes. He’s scored two goals and amassed 12 assists over that span. “Having played over 100 games in this league, his experience and soccer savvy will bring a lot to the team,” said Impact Sporting Director Nick De Santis. “He is a natural left back, who will give us more depth on defence and who can contribute to the offence as well. Heath is highly motivated to get back to the level that saw him on the national team at one point in his career.” http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2014/03/impact-adds-defender-heath-pearce-its-roster
Unlucky Goal Was the Difference in 1-0 Loss to Dynamo An unlucky deflection in the 40th minute was the difference on Saturday night in a solid road game for the Montreal Impact, falling to the Houston Dynamo 1-0 under difficult conditions due to rain at BBVA Compass Stadium. Dynamo forward Will Bruin scored the game winning goal in the 40th minute. Bruin took a shot from outside the 18 yard box that ricocheted off of defender Eric Miller, sliding to make the block, and dipped over goalkeeper Troy Perkins. Perkins came up with a couple of huge saves in the game. In the 10th minute, a ball played across the box fell to Andrew Driver alone in front of goal. Perkins was quick to shift from one side of the post to the other to challenge the shooter and block the point blank attempt. Then in the 72nd minute, after Matteo Ferrari slipped on the wet field, Bruin charged in alone on goal, but Perkins cut off the angle and blocked the shot. Felipe came close in the 16th minute when he fired a low shot from outside the box that just skimmed the post to the left of Hall. Captain Patrice Bernier, making his first start of 2014 after offseason knee surgery, blasted one from distance after a free-kick was cleared in the 54th minute but Houston keeper Tally Hall leapt to push the ball over the bar. Then in the 64th minute, Andrew Wenger almost found his second of the season after he chopped a loose ball in the box towards goal, but his shot was blocked off of the line by defender Kofi Sarkodie. Press release from the Montreal Impact
24,000 tickets sold! Impact takes on Sounders on March 22 at 4pm! http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2014/03/24000-tickets-sold-home-opener-saturday
POSTPONED: Heavy snowfall pushes Montreal Impact home opener vs. Seattle Sounders back to Sunday The brutal winter that's pelted most of North America for the last three months doesn't quite want to loosen its grip on Montreal despite the fact that spring is -- in theory -- here. With heavy snowfall and frigid temperatures in the offing for Saturday's Impact home opener against the Seattle Sounders, the team and league announced Friday that they would move the game back 24 hours to Sunday, March 23 (4 pm ET; RDS in Canada, MLS LIVE in the US). http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-montreal-impact-home-opener-vs-seattle-sound
Report: Montreal Impact in Designated Player talks with Argentine midfielder Ignacio Piatti MONTREAL – A player with the last name Piatti was once again linked to the Montreal Impact. Only the first name has changed. According to a tweet sent out by TSN 690’s Tony Marinaro on Monday, Argentinean attacking midfielder Ignacio Piatti will join the Impact as a Designated Player in June. The Impact declined to publicly comment on the report, but MLSsoccer.com has learned that Montreal has indeed been negotiating to bring in such a summer recruit. Signs of the potential signing came in early February, when various sources reported that Valencia’s Pablo Piatti would join Montreal. While the club quickly denied the rumor, Ignacio Piatti’s name surfaced over the next couple of days, which gave rise to the probability of a case of mistaken identity. Ignacio Piatti, 29, is a technically adept, versatile attacking midfielder with experience playing in France, Italy and his native Argentina. He currently plies his trade at San Lorenzo, winners of the Torneo Inicial of Argentina’s first division http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...ed-player-talks-argentine-midfielder-ignacio-
Philadelphia Union trade top scorer Jack McInerney for Montreal Impact's Andrew Wenger Two of the most ballyhooed young forwards in MLS traded teams on Friday. Jack McInerney, who is coming off a 12-goal season in 2013, is headed to the Montreal Impact, with former No. 1-overall SuperDraft pick Andrew Wenger moving closer to home with the Philadelphia Union in the player-for-player swap between the two Eastern Conference sides. The 21-year-old McInerney played for the Union over five seasons and emerged as the club's leading scorer in the last two. He was selected seventh overall in the 2010 SuperDraft and went on to score 25 regular-season goals in 95 games in Union colors. This year he's started all four matches for Philly, registering one goal. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...orer-jack-mcinerney-montreal-impacts-andrew-w
Impact Earns Second Straight Point in 2-2 Draw with Red Bulls The Montreal Impact came from behind to earn a point against the New York Bulls, playing to a 2-2 draw in front of 24,071 spectators at Olympic Stadium Saturday afternoon, in a game largely dominated by the home side. For the first time this season, the Impact scored the game's opening goal in the 5th minute. Midfielder Felipe played the ball behind the Red Bulls defence to Andres Romero, who was making a run towards the top of the box. The Argentine midfielder took one touch before curling a right-footed shot towards the far corner that caressed the post, beating Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles. The Red Bulls tied it up in the 30th minute when midfielder Lloyd Sam played a cross through the box that found Johnny Steele, who lunged forward to redirect the ball across the goal line. New York scored its second goal in the 34th minute when Steele intercepted a cross-field pass and played a through ball for Peguy Luyindula. The Frenchmen made no mistake, beating Impact keeper Troy Perkins to his right. The Impact found the equalizer in the 60th minute when Justin Mapp played a cross from near the right side corner flag that found Felipe streaking past the penalty spot. The Brazilian midfielder headed the ball toward the far corner to score his first of the season and 100th Impact goal in MLS history. Post-game comments "If you look at just the numbers, we have 21 attempts on goal to 13 for New York," said Impact head coach Frank Klopas. "We have been talking all week about transitions and playing the ball quick to our forwards and finding the gaps in between. In the second half, we had more possession and the guys really pushed the game and scored some fantastic goals. For now, we have to keep working and stay positive." "We had numerous chances and better play early on and in the second half as well," said Justin Mapp. "We just had a couple lapses again and let them back in the game, giving them some confidence to move forward. But those are three points we should have got, for sure. I thought the boys battled well." "When we don't win, I am not happy because the important thing is to get three points," added Felipe, the Videotron Player of the Game. "When we don't get three points that doesn't mean a lot if we score or not. But we still got a point today, so we will look forward to the next game to get our win." Other highlights In the 11th minute, Di Vaio beat his marker along the goal line and fired a shot that's stopped by Robles, with the rebound falling to Romero, but his shot is cleared off the line by a defender. Fifteen minutes later, Felipe won the ball at the top of the box, laying it off for Justin Mapp, but his shot is also grabbed by New York's goalkeeper. Two minutes into the second half, a penalty kick was awarded to the Red Bulls, but Luyindula hammered his shot off the post. The Impact dominated the game in almost all statistical categories, including attempts at goal (21-13), shots on target (12-5), duels won (46-35) and possession (54%). Upcoming games The Impact and the Red Bulls will also meet in an MLS Reserve League match, Sunday at 10:30am at Olympic Stadium. The game is open to the public and admission is free. The Impact plays its final game at Olympic Stadium next Saturday, April 12, at 4pm EDT, against head coach Frank Klopas' former team, the Chicago Fire. Press release from the Montreal Impact
McInerney Scores in Debut as Impact Battle to 1-1 Draw with Fire Jack McInerney wasted no time in opening his account as the Montreal Impact battled to a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire Saturday afternoon, in its third and final game at Olympic Stadium. The Impact has now earned points in three straight matches. The Impact opened the scoring in the 43rd minute from a play that started near the half line. Midfielder Felipe won a ball in the air, heading it to forward Marco Di Vaio near the offensive half-circle. With his back to goal, the Impact DP flicked it over the Fire defence and onto the path of newcomer Jack McInerney. After a 20 yard run, Jack Mac fired a low shot to the left of Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who managed to get a leg on the ball, before it bulged the net for McInerney's first in the bleu-blanc-noir uniform. The Fire tied things up in the 55th minute when, following a corner kick, a free ball fell to forward Mike Magee who played a short cross into the box where his strike partner, Quincy Amarikwa, one-timed it past Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins. The first chance of the game fell to Felipe, whose one-time volley from 30 yards out was pushed away by Johnson, diving to his left as the ball dipped toward the corner in the 12th minute. Chicago came close in the 35th minute when defender Lovel Palmer played a low cross through the box that found captain Jeff Larentowicz, but the midfielders redirect went over the bar. The Fire almost found another in the 79th minute when a header by Patrick Nyarko was dipping towards the far corner before Perkins leapt to push the attempt over the bar. Post-game comments "Today was disappointing because we had more energy in the other games and commitment was not there today," said head coach Frank Klopas. "We felt tired and that the game was flat. We made some changes in the second half and started off a little bit better." "It's good to get the first goal out of the way, but overall the performance of myself and the team was disappointing," said McInerney. "I think we were lucky to have a goal go in and be able to change the game up a little. Today's game didn't play in our favor." "I've been working hard the whole year at every training session," said Impact defender Karl W. Ouimette. "I just have to do even better next time and keep evolving as a player." Upcoming games The Impact will hit the road next week to take on Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park on Saturday, April 19 before returning to Quebec to host the Philadelphia Union for the Stade Saputo opener on Saturday April 26 at 4pm. Press release from the Montreal Impact
Re: McInerney Scores in Debut as Impact Battle to 1-1 Draw with Fire Impact acquires Canadian international Issey Nakajima-Farran from Toronto FC MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Friday the acquisition of Canadian International midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran along with an undisclosed amount of allocation money, from Toronto FC, in exchange for midfielder Collen Warner. Nakajima-Farran, 30, has played professionally on four continents since 2003. Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Nakajima-Farran returned to Canadian soil with TFC on March 28. http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2014/05/impact-acquires-
Re: McInerney Scores in Debut as Impact Battle to 1-1 Draw with Fire Report: Argentine midfielder Ignacio Piatti to join Montreal Impact "barring last-minute turnaround" MONTREAL – More roster moves could be in the works in Québec. Argentinean midfielder Ignacio Piatti will join the Montreal Impact “barring a last-minute turnaround,” according to a Wednesday report in Montreal daily La Presse. Per the report, while clubs from Brazil, Italy, Spanish and Mexico are showing interest in Piatti, Montreal are leading the pack as they’ve been courting him for more than a year. The club declined to comment on the report when contacted by MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday. Montreal’s sporting director Nick De Santis did, however, go public with the club’s pursuit of the player last month. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...acio-piatti-join-montreal-impact-barring-last
Re: McInerney Scores in Debut as Impact Battle to 1-1 Draw with Fire Portland Timbers acquire 2015 second-round MLS SuperDraft pick from Montreal Impact in exchange for defender Futty Danso PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers announced today that the club has acquired a second-round pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft from the Montreal Impact in exchange for defender Futty Danso. Danso, 31, first joined Portland in 2009, playing two seasons for the second-division Timbers before the club’s ascension to MLS in 2011. With the MLS Timbers, the Gambian international made 60 appearances (56 starts) since the start of the 2011 season, recording four goals and one assist in the regular season. Across all eras, Danso compiled 100 career appearances for the Timbers and earned his first international cap for The Gambia National Team during the 2011 season. http://www.reddit.com/tb/274hz8
Impact signs defender Mechack Jérôme Haitian defender has won 2013 MLS Cup with Sporting KC MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact announced on Friday that the club has come to terms on a deal with Haitian defender Mechack Jérôme. As per MLS policy, details of the contract were not disclosed. Mechack Jérôme Position: Defender Height: 5'10" Weight: 165 lbs. Date of birth: April 21, 1990, Liancourt, Haiti Nationality: Haitian Former club: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) Acquired: June 6, 2014 Jérôme, 24, was part of the backline that helped Sporting Kansas City win the 2013 MLS Cup. In two seasons with SKC, he played 12 regular season games, including 10 starts, while also playing in three CONCACAF Champions League games and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game. http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2014/06/impact-signs-defender-mechack-jerome
Impact Reserves Edge Past Islanders Harrisburg hits post three times, falls to Felipe's first-half goal MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact Reserves topped the Harrisburg City Islanders 1-0 in an interleague contest on Friday afternoon at Stade Saputo. Midfielder Felipe scored the winning goal in the first half, while the City Islanders hit both the crossbar and post as they tried to secure a point on the road. http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/818745.html
Rivas removed from roster Centre back played just 11 regular season games due to injury MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact announced on Tuesday that central defender Nelson Rivas has been removed from the team’s roster. The 31 year old defender has not played a regular season game in MLS in the last two seasons due to injuries, following the 11 games he played in 2012. In 2013, he only played the MLS playoff game in Houston. This season, Rivas played the first game of the Amway Canadian Championship final in Toronto before falling once again to injury. http://www.reddit.com/tb/28yy4c
Montreal Impact agree to terms with Argentine midfielder Ignacio Piatti as Designated Player Lose one Designated Player, gain another. Two weeks after confirming that defensive midfielder Hernán Bernardello had not agreed to a new contract (he appears headed to Cruz Azul), the Montreal Impact announced on Wednesday that the club has agreed to terms with Argentine attacking midfielder Ignacio Piatti, also a Designated Player. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...ree-terms-argentine-midfielder-ignacio-piatti
TFC avenges Canadian Championship final loss with 2-0 win in Montreal The stage was set for rivals Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact to play in a jam-packed State Saputo. Coming off a 3-0 loss to DC, this was a must-win for Toronto, who is in the mix for a playoff position. They had to get a result without Defoe, who was a last minute scratch with a groin injury. Montreal on the other hand were looking to end the six game losing streak that got Nick De Santis out as Sporting Director. http://www.rednationonline.ca/Articles2014/TorontoavengesCanadianChampionshipfinallossw.aspx
Final: IMFC vs CD FAS Di Vaio's goal gives the Impact a much needed W Club Deportivo FAS MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact got the start they wanted for their CONCACAF Champions League campaign. The 2014 Canadian Champions won the first game of Group 3 in the CCL, beating El Salvador's FAS by a score of 1-0 on Tuesday night at Stade Saputo. Montreal now have as many wins (three) in five cup games this year as they do in 21 league games in MLS this season. Marco Di Vaio got the winner for the Impact in the 21st minute. Midfielder Felipe picked up a short pass back from right winger Justin Mapp outside the box and was immediately pressured by two opponents. Felipe quickly floated a cross toward Di Vaio, who timed his run impeccably to nod the ball in at the far post past Luis Contreras http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/a...d-fas-0-concacaf-champions-league-match-recap
