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Montreal Impact 2 – 1 Philadelphia Union
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Prelude to the Battle
The stage was set. In the penultimate matchday, the Montreal Impact welcomed the Philadelphia Union to Stade Saputo for an important matchup which had both sides trying to inch closer to the playoffs.
Montreal returned home for this one after a midweek trip to the West Coast where they faced the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Impact lost one-nil and missed their chance to add three points with their match in-hand.
Head coach Marco Schällibaum made seven changes from Wednesday's match. Troy Perkins, Matteo Ferrari, Alessandro Nesta, Patrice Bernier, Davy Arnaud, Felipe and Justin Mapp all made a return to the starting XI. The Impact lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation to start the match.
The Philadelphia Union arrived in Montreal equal on points with the Impact and the Chicago Fire. The Union salvaged a late 90th minute equalizer against D.C. United last weekend in what was not the best showing against the league's worst side.
As both teams are Eastern Conference rivals, this was the third and last meeting between the Impact and Union. Montreal took the first match 5-3 at home in May, but played to a scoreless draw in Philadelphia in late August.
The Opening 45
The home side looked like a team on a mission straight after the opening kickoff. In the sixth minute, team leading scorer Marco Di Vaio came so close to giving Montreal a dream start.
The Impact recovered a ball inside the Philadelphia half and set forward. Mapp and Hassoun Camara combined for a one-two combination resulting in a low ball for Di Vaio inside the box. The Italian missed the target from seven yards out.
As the match progressed, Philadelphia started to find their shape and had the next few of the game's chances. In the 24th minute, striker Conor Casey almost put the visitors ahead, but his header off a corner kick struck the crossbar and stayed out.
Five minutes later, the Union silenced the Stade Saputo crowd. Following an error from Karl W. Ouimette, Brazilian 2002 World Cup winner Kléberson picked up possession at midfield and sent a precise through ball for fellow countryman Fabinho. Fabinho's left-footed effort beat Perkins at the near post for the goal.
Both side's time with the ball cancelled each other out for the reminder of the half. Neither was able to get close to goal and create any major threat. The Union had a one goal lead at halftime.
The Second Half
Montreal knew they had to be much better offensively in the second half. With the season on the line, things needed to improve. However, until the 53rd minute, nothing in their performance changed.
The Impact's struggles up front prompted Schällibaum to alter his side's tactics and formation. Andrew Wenger came on as the game's first substitute in exchange for Bernier. Montreal was now playing a 4-4-2 with Di Vaio and Wenger as strikers.
Wenger's addition seemed to have provided the missing spark his side needed. The Impact began to work the ball forward and managed to get in dangerous areas.
In the 64th minute, Montreal got the equalizer. After Wenger worked the ball forward, Felipe had possession and played a through ball out left for Arnaud. The captain squared a ball inside the box for Di Vaio, whose first-touch left him with a good look on goal which he made no mistake burying.
Six minutes later, the Impact were still on the hunt. Arnaud got on the end of a bouncing ball on the left flank and proceeded to send a 'trivela' cross ahead for Di Vaio. The Italian somehow missed his sliding shot from six-yards out.
Montreal had another solid opportunity to take the lead. In the 77th minute, the home side worked the ball well up the pitch which led to Felipe having possession inside the Union penalty area. The Brazilian playmaker played the ball to Mapp trailing at the top of the box, but Mapp's effort curled just wide of the far post.
In the 84th minute, the Impact were awarded a free kick in a good position on the right flank. With almost everyone in the box, Mapp curled the ball in towards the far post where an unmarked Ouimette was able to head it in for the lead.
The Union were unable to provide an answer for the late Impact goal. Montreal held on for three points to keep their playoff push alive.
Post-Match Reaction
"At half time, we discussed how we felt that we wanted to win. What we were doing wasn't enough," said head coach Marco Schällibaum. "I told the guys I believe in them. After a difficult week and some tough results, it's a great moment full of emotions and I'm very proud of the guys."
"It happened by itself," said Karl W. Ouimette referring to his first MLS goal and game winner. "I turned, the ball was in front of me and out of reflex I just hit it in. After that, I had no idea what to do. It was a good thing the guys jumped on me or else I would have had no clue how to celebrate."
"I love every guy here," said defender Alessandro Nesta who may have played the final match of his career after picking up a calf injury. "It was a long season with some good moments, even though the last two months were not so good. At every training session we tried to get everyone together. Now maybe, just maybe, we will go to the playoffs."
"Not a whole lot was said [at half time] other than 'don't give up until the end,'" said midfielder Justin Mapp. "The guys certainly responded. It was not ideal, but three points at this point is all you can ask for."
"We're going to go to Toronto and try to earn that [first round] playoff game," said forward Andrew Wenger.
The Final Word: A resurfaced sense of urgency gives Montreal a missing spark offensively.
It finally came back. Montreal's surge of urgency to press forward for goals finally reappeared and the Impact started looking like their old selves from earlier in the season.
But, it took a while to start going. Up until about the hour mark, the Impact had trouble getting anything going in the final attacking third. In the two other thirds, the team did well to win balls, and keep possession while slowly pushing forward. When it came into the final third, Montreal was still missing that spark which saw them take over and win the match.
Whether it was because of confidence or not, Montreal dominated the league in the opening months of the season due to their explosiveness and sharpness up front. As the season went on, the team lost that desire or changed tactics altogether and their offensive output started plummeting.
It took Montreal players and Schällibaum an hour in this match to finally open up and throw numbers forward. In the first half, the Impact were way too static when attacking. Balls were moved around, but there was virtually no movement or runs being made from supporting players. Everything was static.
Following the introduction of Wenger as a substitute, Montreal played a 4-4-2 and threw every one forward. Of course, at this time, it was starting to be desperation mode. The Union had a one goal lead and the Impact knew they had to take more chances to try and get something out of this match.
Fortunately for Montreal, they got their first goal in the 64th minute, giving them plenty of time to find a second. But the way the goal was created seemed to have given every Impact player a boost.
The first goal happened because Montreal was not afraid to push players up. Both fullbacks were high up the pitch and the outside midfielders were making cutting runs along with both strikers. This dynamic approach unbalanced Philadelphia's defensive block and allowed Montreal players to exploit the gaps that were created.
The flanks started to open up and the Impact would often send through balls or lobbed balls towards to corners. This resulted in crosses and shots that tested their opposition.
Ouimette's goal is a case of being in the right place at the right time. The Impact had almost their entire squad in the Union penalty area which seemed to have overwhelmed defenders. Mapp's ball was perfectly bended to the far post where three Impact players were waiting to direct it in.
Should the Impact make the playoffs, and for them to make something happen, the team has to play like they did in the final 30 minutes, but for 90 minutes instead.
This high demand system requires a lot of heart and a fit side. It would probably be impossible to play like that for 90 minutes, so the team should instead focus on playing the first 30 minutes at a high intensity. If the Impact score early playing like this, they can hold onto the ball by retaining possession in order to recover.
Defensively, Montreal were good in this match. Philadelphia had some good first half chances, but almost nothing in the second half. The Impact need to tighten things up and bit and play with more intensity up front if they want their season to go as long as possible.
Montreal's final match of the season is a clásico against rivals Toronto FC at BMO Field.
Montreal Impact Line-up
1 Perkins
34 Ouimette
13 Ferrari
14 Nesta
6 Camara
23 Bernardello
8 Bernier
22 Arnaud
7 Felipe
21 Mapp
9 Di Vaio
Substitutions: (53) Wenger in for Bernier; (71) Pisanu in for Arnaud; (89) Lefèvre in for Nesta
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