{"id":2318,"date":"2016-11-21T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2016-11-21T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=2318"},"modified":"2016-11-21T06:23:37","modified_gmt":"2016-11-21T11:23:37","slug":"johan-venegas-x-factor-montreal-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2016\/11\/21\/johan-venegas-x-factor-montreal-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Johan Venegas a Potential X-Factor for the Montreal Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Montreal Impact<\/strong><\/a> are in uncharted territory. For the first time in the club’s MLS<\/strong><\/a> history, they’ve made it to the conference finals\u00a0where they will face Canadian<\/strong> rivals Toronto FC<\/strong><\/a>. It’s a mouthwatering clash that figures to have plenty of drama over both legs.<\/p>\n

A multitude of players will undoubtedly have their chance to help lead their respective side to victory and the MLS Cup<\/strong> appearance that comes with it. Some will be expected to do so, such as the Impact’s dynamic number ten, Ignacio Piatti<\/strong><\/a>. But there are always those under the radar types you don’t expect to play a part who indelibly make their mark.<\/p>\n

Johan Venegas<\/strong><\/a> might fall into that category.<\/p>\n

Johan Venegas a Potential X-Factor for the Montreal Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Now it must be said that Venegas contributed minimally to the Impact this year. The Costa Rican<\/strong> attacking midfielder made just nine regular season starts and played in less than 25 percent of Montreal’s overall minutes. In that time, he found the net just once. It came on September 28th in a 3-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Even in the postseason up to this point, his impact has been limited. Though Venegas played in\u00a0every game, he’s come on as a sub in all three. And he’s played in a mere 30 minutes of action thus far.<\/p>\n

An initial perusal of those numbers makes the prospect of Venegas being an X-factor sound presumptuous at best. But something happened between the Impact’s win over the New York Red Bulls<\/strong><\/a> and their forthcoming showdown with TFC. Namely, Venegas played fantastically for his country in World Cup<\/strong> qualifying.<\/p>\n

Impressive Outing for “Los Ticos”<\/h3>\n

Fans of the USMNT<\/strong><\/a> probably want to forget some of Venegas’ exploits for Costa Rica. It was his 44th minute goal that opened up the scoring for the Ticos<\/strong> <\/em>last Tuesday. He demonstrated that if you give him time and space to finish,\u00a0he’ll take full advantage.<\/p>\n

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Venegas gets his noggin on a Bola\u00f1os' cross to put @FEDEFUTBOL_CR<\/a> in front before the break. #beINCONCACAF<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/S8dCMkkJA3<\/a><\/p>\n

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) November 16, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n