MONTREAL — It was far from entertaining, and considering the quality of opposition on the field it was hardly an inspiring win. But in what has turned out to be a disastrous 2014, the Montreal Impact will gladly take it.
Marco Di Vaio’s first-half goal was the difference, lifting Montreal to a 1-0 win over what was essentially a New York Red Bulls reserve side in CONCACAF Champions League action on a rainy Wednesday night at Stade Saputo.
With the victory, the Impact took firm control of their round-robin group and are poised to move on to the knockout round. Montreal leads with nine points and one match remaining. New York is second with three points and a game in hand.
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The Red Bulls travel to El Salvador to face C.D. FAS next Wednesday, and then host the Impact on Oct. 22. Only the group winner moves on. Montreal can win the group and advance to the quarterfinals with a draw against New York, or if the Red Bulls fail to win both of their remaining games.
“I think [we’re] in a pretty good position right now. It’s in our hands,” Impact coach Frank Klopas said after the game.
Montreal currently sits in last place in Major League Soccer’s overall standings, and has been out of post-season contention for many months. Champions League success won’t make up for their disastrous MLS campaign, but it’s all the Impact have left to play for at this point, and it would allow them to salvage a modicum of pride.
Calling it the “biggest match” of the season in the buildup, Klopas deployed a full-strength side after giving most his starters the night off in last Saturday’s 2-1 road loss to the New England Revolution.
In stark contrast, the Champions League appears to be a major annoyance for the Red Bulls. New York is in the thick of a tight playoff race in MLS’ Eastern Conference, sitting in fourth place but with three teams within four points. The top five in the East qualify for the post-season.
Little wonder, then, that Red Bulls coach Mike Petke fielded what can charitably be called his “B team,” with star forward Thierry Henry and midfielder Tim Cahill not even in the 18-man roster. Bradley Wright-Phillips, the top scorer in MLS this season with 21 goals, was out with a hamstring injury for New York, who host the Seattle Sounders on Saturday in a vital game with regards to the playoff race.
Petke only had one regular starter in his first 11—Spanish defender Armando Lozano—and he went with backup goalkeeper Ryan Meara (who hasn’t seen a single minute of MLS action this season) instead of Luis Robles.
Petke made no apologies for using his reserve team, saying that nagging injuries, visa issues for some players and the club’s busy schedule forced his hand.
“My hat’s off to my team. It feels like a loss and it is, but if they didn’t show the character they did and put in the fight that they did, it could have been a lot worse,” Petke offered.
Montreal started brightly, with the front four of Di Vaio, Ignacio Piatti, Andres Romero and Dilly Duka pressuring New York’s makeshift backline. Piatti fired a long-range shot off the post in the third minute to send the Red Bulls an early warning.
Piatti then picked out Di Vaio with a magnificent, inch-perfect diagonal cross into the box, and the Italian did very well to control it before slotting it home from a tight angle past Meara in the 16th minute.
New York grew into the game as the first half wore on, and Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush had to make two solid saves, including one off a Richard Eckersley header from in close.
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The second half was a dull affair, with the Impact maintaining their defensive shape and contenting themselves to have the Red Bulls run at them. New York didn’t force the issue in the attacking third, and were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute after Connor Lade picked up his second yellow card of the contest.
Romero should have doubled Montreal’s lead in the 88th minute, but he pushed his shot wide of the far post after being played into the box by a great pass from Duka.
“It wasn’t an easy game. I give a lot of credit to New York. They played really well, even with all the changes they made,” Klopas said.
Di Vaio earned his second yellow card of the group stage in this match, which means he’ll be suspended for the return game in New York next month.
NOTES: Montreal was missing Brazilian playmaker Felipe Martins and Polish left-back Krzysztof Krol through suspension. Also, Canadian midfielder Patrice Bernier did not dress… The Impact return to MLS action on Saturday when they host the San Jose Earthquakes…
