Recap: #IMFC vs #DOOP

Impact headed back home to face off against the Philadelphia Union for their third match in 8 days; meanwhile this shouldn't have been used as an excuse because they are professionals and both teams were in the same situation. Very early on something looked off in the game play of the Impact giving up many opportunities to their opponents and being too passive in the final third.

In the early minutes of the game a penalty shout was heard in Saputo Stadium after Piatti was taken down questionably in the box. There was no call from the referee and the Impact did not get many more opportunities in the half.

Nearing the end of the first half, the continuous and somewhat surprising attack of Philly became too much for Bush, who had been stellar up until that point. A cross from a Union player reached Burke in front of Bush who scored off a powerful header.

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Coming into the second half, the men in blue and black got a glimmer of hope when Piette was taken down dangerously and Burke was given a red card for his reckless challenge. Going up a man with over thirty minutes to go the Impact should have been able to make the most of what they were given but the team looked flat.

To make matters worse, only 9 minutes later Lovitz who was caught in a one on one battle towards the net even the playing field for the visitor by being awarded a red after video review. Lovitz was unable to contain his opponent and took him down aggressively. Looking at the challenge again it seemed somewhat unnecessary as his opponent had loss the ball and Bush would have likely gotten to it.

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Red cards can be momentum shifters and while the first one shifted the game in the Impact favor the second red not only evened the playing field but somewhat shifted it towards their opponents.

Pushing to get the equalizer the Impact was caught off guard when Philly doubled their lead in the 88th minute. Overall it was a disappointing and flat performance from Montrealers who were at home and should have been able to get something out of this game.

3 Observations

• Seizing an Opportunity: Raitala was predicted to be a depth piece for the Impact at the beginning of the season but eleven games into the season he has started them all and has only played on at his natural position. The man has not only stepped up in the absence of important players but has managed well. It could be questioned how he dealt with the situation on the first goal but overall the Finish defender has done well considering what was being asked of him.

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• Stop Overthinking: One big issue of the Impact players is their inability to keep plays simple and make the easy pass instead of the difficult one. Players hesitate with their decisions, they make the pass to the guy with a lot of pressure instead of the guy with no pressure, they try to do everything instead of playing as unit. Overall the players are just don't seem to have that cohesion developed among themselves yet and it is such a vital part of success that without it their lives are much more difficult.
• Owner Says His Piece: It was shared the owner Joey Saputo said his piece to the players after the game. The performance was unacceptable and Saputo is a man who hates losing but even more so in the way the Impact did on a sunny Saturday afternoon at home. Hopefully this shake up by the owner could have a positive effect on the team; at this point anything that can work I think fans will take it.

Lineups

MTL – G-Evan Bush; D-Michael Petrasso (Dominic Oduro 83’), Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz; M-Samuel Piette, Alejandro Silva, Saphir Taider; A-Ignacio Piatti, Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Raheem Edwards (Matteo Mancosu 81’)

Unused substitutes – Clément Diop, Chris Duvall, Shamit Shome, Louis Béland-Goyette, Ken Krolicki

PHI – G-Andre Blake; D-Keegan Rosenberry, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Raymon Gaddis; M-Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya, Marcus Epps (David Accam 75’), Borek Dockal (Warren Creavalle 63’), Fabrice-Jean Picault (Fabinho 90’+6’); A-Cory Burke

Unused substitutes – John McCarthy, Jack Elliott, Ilsinho, Anthony Fontana

GOAL

PHI – Burke (Gaddis, Dockal) 43’

PHI – Medunjanin

CAUTIONS

MTL – Silva 65’

PHI – McKenzie 71’

MTL – Piette 77’

SENDING OFFS

PHI – Burke 58’

MTL – Lovitz 67’