Impact defeats DC United in Florida

Yesterday afternoon at The University of South Florida’s Corbett Stadium, Montreal Impact and DC United went head to head in each side’s first pre-season friendly.

The game was played behind closed doors with details limited, and the Impact ran out winners by 3-1, after a scoreless first-half.

Jean Yves Ballou Tabla scored either side of a 78th minute strike by new boy Romell Quioto to ease the Quebecers into a 3-0 lead. All three Impact goals came within a 21-minute spell beginning in the 63rd , concluding in the 84th.

Josh Fawole, a second-round draft pick from Loyola (Md.), scored DC’s consolation in the 86th minute.

In his first match in charge Thierry Henry opted to go with a 4-3-3 formation, putting out two entirely different teams before and after the interval. Bojan Krkic was withdrawn after 34 mins of the first-half, replaced by Amar Sejdic, who also played the entire second-half.

Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

For DC United, third string ‘keeper Earl Edwards was the only player to log 90 mins. Oniel Fisher, making his way back from a 15-month injury absence, started at right back, while Chris Odoi-Atsem, a natural right back, started on the left, filling the void left by Joseph Mora (away on Costa Rican national team duty).

Steven Birnbaum and Frédéric Brillant, the top central partnership last season, anchored the back line. Russell Canouse and former Impact midfielder Felipe Martins were deployed in holding roles in the middle of the park.

Aside from Mora, midfielder Ulises Segura is also with the Costa Rican squad, while Paul Arriola and first-choice keeper Bill Hamid are each with the U.S. national team, due to face Costa Rica in Saturday’s friendly in Carson, California.

Montreal starting XI - Clement Diop - Keesean Ferdinand, Karifa Yao, Rod Fanni, Clement Bayiha - Samuel Piette, Mathieu Choiniere, Steeven Saba - Ignacio Piatti, Maximiliano Urruti, Bojan

Montreal second half XI - Evan Bush - Jorge Corrales, Joel Waterman, Rudy Camacho, Zachary Brault-Guillard - Shamit Shome, Tomas Giraldo, Amar Sejdic - Romell Quioto, Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Ballou Tabla

Full line-up information was unavailable for DC United.