Impact Beat Crew 2-1

The Impact went into Columbus Saturday night looking for their first win on the road in 2015, and they got it with a 2-1 victory. Montreal had not won a match away from Stade Saputo (in MLS play) since September 2013 before Saturday night. The win pushes the Impact to within one point of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with games in hand.

Slow First Half:

"We had to rotate some players and we are still dealing with injuries." - Frank Klopas

With Reo-Coker and Donadel returning to the Montreal starting lineup that got thrashed in Chicago last weekend the two had an opportunity to redeem themselves, and for the most part they did. Columbus had the opportunity to attack down the right flank however they were not able to take advantage the way the Fire did. Columbus arguably had the best opportunity of the first half as Evan Bush was forced to tip a Waylon Francis header over the bar. It was a slow first half as both teams traded midfield jabs.

Second Half Awakening:

"We respect this team, with a number of good players, so we decided to play a little more defensively to start the game and then we found chances." - Marco Donadel

The Impact, who have struggled at times this season during spells in the second half, played a very strong second half on Saturday night. Both Laurent Ciman and Andres Romero took control of the game and willed the Impact to victory. The first goal of the night came through Maxim Tissot in the 55th-minute after a great run by Andres Romero and a shot from Jack McInerney. Tissot was in the right place at the right time to knock home the rebound. The Impact made it two in the 79th-minute as Romero and Piatti linked up on a counter attack. Romero cooly slotted home the insurance goal after an amazing second half performance. Columbus clawed a goal back in injury time through Federico Higuain but it was too little too late.

Building Block:

Finalement brisé la glace. Victoire à l'étranger. #IMFC

— Patrice Bernier (@pbernier10) June 7, 2015

With the victory against Columbus, the Impact have a little momentum going for themselves. Montreal have won four of their last five games, three in a row at home and now one on the road. The bleu-blanc-noir will face the team sitting in the basement of the Eastern Conference NYCFC at Yankee Stadium next Saturday evening. Klopas rolled the dice by putting Reo-Coker and Donadel back into the starting lineup after the disaster in Chicago last weekend and it paid off. The team is starting to play with real confidence for the first time under Klopas.

Game Statistics and Quotes Courtesy of the Montreal Impact:

LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Nigel Reo-Coker, Laurent Ciman, Wandrille Lefèvre, Donny Toia; M-Eric Alexander (Calum Mallace 68’), Marco Donadel (Patrice Bernier 80’), Maxim Tissot (Victor Cabrera 82’), Ignacio Piatti, Andrés Romero; F-Jack McInerney

Subs not used: GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Bakary Soumare; F-Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Romario Williams

CLB – GK-Steve Clark; D-Hector Jimenez, Michael Parkhurst, Tyson Wahl, Waylon Francis; M-Ethan Finlay (Ben Speas 68’), Tony Tchani, Mohammed Saeid (Aaron Schoenfeld 80’), Kristinn Steindorsson (Justin Meram 64’), Federico Higuain; F-Kei Kamara

Subs not used: G-Brad Stuver; D-Emanuel Pogatetz, Chad Barson; M-Kevan George

GOALS
MTL – Tissot 55’
MTL – Romero (Piatti) 79’
CLB – Higuain 90+1’

CAUTIONS
MTL – Donadel 75’
MTL – Romero 78’

MTL – Toia 88’

MTL – McInerney 90+3’