The following is a press release from the Montreal Impact:
Impact Earns Hard Fought 2-2 Draw in Philadelphia
Piatti, McInerney score their fourth goals of the season
CHESTER, PA – The Montreal Impact earned a hard fought 2-2 draw on the road Saturday night against the Philadelphia Union, at PPL Park. Ignacio Piatti and Jack McInerney scored their fourth goals of the season in the draw.
Due to extremely rainy and windy conditions, both teams struggled finding rhythm, but scored on the only real chances they generated in the first half.
“We played well enough to win, but the positive is that we got a point on the road,” said head coach Frank Klopas. “We were dominant in position and created good chances.”
A pretty passing place near the top of the box led to the Union’s opening goal when Erik Ayuk finished it off with a one-timed blast far corner in the eighth minute.
The Impact tied it up in the 28th minute when Ignacio Piatti used two moves at the half circle to find some room in between five defenders before firing a low shot from 20 yards out.
Then in the 70th minute, Jack McInerney scored against his former team when he cut right to beat his defender and fired it short side.
Maurice Edu then tied it up in the 76th minute when he jumped on a rebound after Bush made the initial save off of a long distance blast.
“I think we played a really good game under difficult conditions,” explained Nacho Piatti. “We played well as a group and earned an important point.”
“I just wanted to go out there and work hard for the team,” added Jack McInerney. “I got an opportunity and made the best of it to help the team earn a point. We will come on the road and take a point any day.”
Patrice Bernier was shown his second yellow and ejected from the game with 20 minutes to play, but things leveled off after Ayuk was shown his second yellow as well in the 78th minute.
The Impact will plays its next game at Stade Saputo on Saturday, July 4, at 8pm, against David Villa and New York City FC (TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690, 98.5FM). Tickets for kids under 16 are only $12 for any seat in the stadium.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Ambroise Oyongo, Laurent Ciman, Victor Cabrera, Donny Toia; M-Calum Mallace, Patrice Bernier, Dilly Duka (Marco Donadel 69′), Ignacio Piatti, Andrés Romero (Nigel Reo-Coker 86′); F-Dominic Oduro (Jack McInerney 60′)
Subs not used: GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Bakary Soumare, Wandrille Lefèvre; M-Maxim Tissot
PHI – GK-Brian Sylvestre; D-Raymon Giddis, Maurice Edu, Richie Marquez, Fabinho; M-Vincent Nogueira, Brian Carroll (Fred 72′), Eric Ayuk, Cristian Maidana (Sheanon Williams 81′), Zach Pfeffer (Andrew Wenger 57′); F-C.J. Sapong
Subs not used: GK-Andre Blake; D-Ethan White; F-Antoine Hoppenot, Dzenan Catic
GOALS
PHI – Ayuk (Sapong, Maidana) 8′
MTL – Piatti (Duka) 28′
MTL – McInerney (Romero) 70′
PHI – Edu 75′
CAUTIONS
MTL – Romero 16′
MTL – Bernier 22′
PHI – Edu 41′
PHI – Ayuk 62′
MTL – Toia 72′
EJECTIONS
MTL – Bernier 67′ (second yellow)
PHI – Ayuk 77′ (second yellow)
