After trailing 2-0 for most of the game, the Montreal Impact secured a comeback with five minutes left to play. But a last-minute penalty kick goal by Gyasi Zardes helped capture all three points for Columbus Crew SC.
Looking at how each player played in both teams respective starting lineups, we will take a look at each team top three player ratings, courtesy of whoscored.com.
Columbus Crew SC-Montreal Impact: Player Ratings
Montreal Impact Player Ratings
To get things started, we’ll start off with the away side, Montreal.
Ignacio Piatti – 8.3
Piatti got the Impact on the board in the 59th minute when his strike from a tight angle on the right side got past goalkeeper Zack Steffen. Looking at the heat map of Piatti, he mostly played on the left side but didn’t see much. With three shots on goal total from the Argentine midfielder, only one saw the back of the net. This particular goal awarded him Man of the Match and such a high rating. Not to mention that if you were to compare his stats between him and Zardes, he had a 3.5 possession percentage, and his successful passing percentage was 72.
? | Nacho ouvre son compteur pour 2018! Nacho with his first of the season!#IMFC | #CLBvMTL pic.twitter.com/qHaeTmebHa
— Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) March 10, 2018
Daniel Lovitz – 7.8
Lovitz played all 90 minutes for Montreal. With a 7.8 rating, is easy to see why he was rated the second highest. If you were to compare him to left-back Milton Valenzuela, Lovitz has a whopping 6.0% of possession and 79% successful passing. Even though he was dispossessed once, it still didn’t have an effect on his rating.
Victor Cabrera – 7.8
Cabrera also had the second highest rating for Montreal. So you can say him and Lovitz were tied for second. Cabrera’s rating — comparing stats with him and counterpart Jonathan Mensah — is easily questionable, but then again, easily understandable. With a 6.5% of possession, and completing six tackles, his match rating is well-earned.
Columbus Crew SC Match Ratings
Now taking a look at the home team, Columbus Crew SC.
Gyasi Zardes – 7.9
Zardes became the first player in Crew SC history to score in his first two regular season games with the club. Last week he scored a minute after halftime to help secure a 2-0 win over reigning MLS Cup champions Toronto FC and scored twice on Saturday. One of them being a game-winning penalty in second-half stoppage time. In a perfect world, one would think a two-goal performance would give them Man Of The Match honors. Well, it didn’t. Comparing his stats and Matteo Mancosu, he had a total of four shots and won a single tackle. The rest were either tied or went in favor of his Montreal counterpart.
G⚽AL!
At the death ☠, @gyasinho rescues all 3️⃣ points!#CrewSC | #CLBvMTL pic.twitter.com/qyIdpxjCy8— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) March 10, 2018
Lalas Abubakr – 7.1
Abubakar gave Crew SC fans a scare very late in the second half when he was shown laying on his back in the center circle. Upon replay, video showed him motioning to the bench and then laying down on his back. Referee Chris Penso, several Impact players, and his teammates went to his aide. Head coach Gregg Berhalter said he was told after the game it was ‘dehydration.’
Aside from that, Abubakar had himself a good game for a center back. He was able to draw a penalty when former Crew SC defender Jukka Raitala pulled him down in the 12th minute of play. Looking at both their stats, Abubakar had the better end. With 5.6% of possession, 90% successful passing, and winning three aerials, he fully deserved the 7.1 match rating.
Harrison Afful – 7.0
The fullback from Ghana continues to improve his offensive skillset. Afful had two really good shots on goal, that possibly could’ve found the back of the net. Along with his 4.8% of possession, and completing 84% of his passes, his 7.0 match rating was the third highest for Columbus.
