Henry Praise for Fanni

Impact coach Thierry Henry spoke of the ‘vital’ recovery 38-year-old Rod Fanni made in the dying minutes of added time in the 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew, Wednesday evening.

With Crew’s Emmanuel Boateng honing in on goal the former Marseille veteran used all his experience to extend a leg and force the ball away from the Columbus man’s control. It was a game-winning tackle.

“That’s what Rod can do.

“Rod had a problem for a while with his calf and he feels a bit better and when Rod feels better you can see it. Because if he didn’t he wouldn’t have made that recovery at the very end on Boateng.

“It was vital for us. That’s what we need more often.

“Now you can see there is an improvement in his game at the minute, so let’s keep it this way and try to find even more ways to give up less opportunities so we don’t have to ee him making those recovery runs. But he can make them now.”

Rod Fanni and the Impact have their next outing Sunday evening at Subaru Park, Chester (KO 7.30pm), when they will try to avenge the recent 1-4 defeat to Philadelphia Union.

So, after defeating the top side in the Conference, they now have the opportunity to upset the side now occupying second spot. It’s a game that generally produces goals with 31 (16 by the Impact) scored in ten editions of the fixture. Union have won 3, Impact 2, with 5 games ending all square.