The Montreal Impact (1-5-1) won the battle for the first 75 minutes of the game at FC Dallas. They looked like the far better squad, playing aggressive, creating chances and in search of their first MLS road victory. But playing better for the first 75 means nothing when you give up two goals in the final 15 minutes and lose 2-1 to leave FC Dallas Stadium with zero points.
I was getting excited to write a recap about the Impact winning two games in a row, after looking so lethargic to open the campaign and playing so well at FCD…it wasn’t meant to be.
Impact forward Bernardo Corradi sunk a penalty kick into the back of the net to open the scoring in the 61st minute. It was a quite weak foul in the box to be awarded the PK but Jesse Marsch and Co. won’t complain. I was watching the FC Dallas TV feed and their announcers were just baffled by all the offsides calls, fouls and yellow cards given in this game, especially the awarded PK to Montreal.
FC Dallas forward Blas Perez tied the game at 1 with his header in the 77th minute. FCD took a free kick 30 yards out which was headed off the crossbar and Perez finished it off with a little header of his own. That was Perez’s third goal of 2012. So now with 13 minutes left, Montreal can at least get a point from this match, right? Not so much. US international Brek Shea netted a goal in the 88th minute off a quick throw-in to win the game and sink the hearts of Montreal Impact supporters.
For as tough as the final quarter of an hour was, we need to be proud and the MLS needs to take notice of how well the Impact played before that point. They looked like a team that had been around MLS for awhile and made FCD look like a discombobulated expansion side. If this team can keep improving, I think the stretch of 10 of 15 games played at Saputo Stadium during the summer months could lead itself to a lot of check-marks in the “W” column for Montreal.
Keep your heads up Impact fans and sound off to me on Twitter at @MLSinMONTREAL. I want to hear your reactions, thoughts, comments, concerns about this team!
