Montreal Impact 1- D.C. United 0
This time of the year most 18 year olds are thinking about only two things: beach and parties. For Montreal Impact midfielder Yves Jean-Ballou Tabla he is thinking about something completely different: scoring goals in Major League Soccer. One of the biggest prospects in MLS had another huge night in his rookie season this time scoring the lone goal for his side in their 1-0 win over D.C. United.
With injuries playing such a critical role for United early this season it is unsurprising that another would impact this match. Shortly before halftime goalkeeper Bill Hamid was scratched from the starting eleven in favor of Travis Worra. That injury, coupled with Patrick Mullins, Nick De Leon, and Steve Birnbaum also being out meant that D.C. had to operate not at full strength.
Although United have been successful with a weakened side in recent matches it hurt them against Montreal early. The Impact used their speed on the outside to hit at D.C.’s center-back pairing of Bobby Boswell and Kofi Opare. Going in at diagonal angles from the goal-mouth midfielders Ignacio Piatti and forward Dominic Oduro broke their defense.
With space in the center the Impact would create several enticing goal-scoring opportunities, including a bullet from Yves Jean-Ballou Tabla. The 18 year old would put the visitors up early in the 13th minute with a shot from just inside the eighteen yard box. Tabla was assisted on the play by Adrian Arregui, who laid in a cross from near mid-court, finding Tabla with about four or five feet of space to work with. The goal was Tabla’s second on the season.
Despite having the goal advantage Montreal continued to pressure their Eastern Conference rivals. Oduro nearly had his own highlight reel goal with a strike from the right flank in the 29th minute but was denied by diving effort from Worra. A similar result would happen just nine minutes later when Chris Duvall would find himself rejected by Worra. The third year keeper from New Hampshire made two saves in the first half and was instrumental in keeping D.C in the match.
United appeared to have a bit more life in the second half thanks to the substitution of Patrick Mullins. With Mullins in tow Acosta had more space to operate within in Montreal’s defensive third. That extra space nearly paid off for D.C. when the Argentine ripped a shot from distance. The effort brought United’s supporters to their feet but left them with only a feeling of disappointment as it hit the crossbar and went out of play.
Mullins nearly had a goal himself in the 74th minute when he played a chance off of his chest and hit a shot on target. The effort appeared promising, especially after Ian Harkes’ cross caught the Impact defense napping. But credit to Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush for staying with the ball and making the save.
D.C. would have one final opportunity late when Opare would break past the Impact defense and hit his shot into the back of the net. What appeared to be a moment of joy though turned into another moment of disappointment as referee Robert Sibiga would rule him offside.
The match would take a chippy turn late with both sides engaging in a series tough challenges. Their issues would come to a head just near stoppage time when Impact substitute Anthony Jackson-Hamel appeared to hit Boswell. Although Boswell would get back into the match, the two would go at it again after the final whistle with Jackson-Hamel holding his foot.
With the victory Montreal snapped a two game winless streak and earned their first road victory on the season. They will head back home next week to take on another Eastern Conference foe in Columbus Crew SC (5/13 5pm EST).
As for United the loss ends their two game unbeaten run and starts their three game home stretch off on a less than desirable start. The club will hope for better luck at RFK Stadium next Saturday when they take on the Chicago Fire.
D.C. United- , Sean Franklin, Kofi Opare, Bobby Boswell, Taylor Kemp, Jared Jeffrey , Lloyd Sam (Jose Guillermo Ortiz 83′) , Ian Harkes (Marcelo 78′), Luciano Acosta, Lamar Neagle, and Sebastian Le Toux (Patrick Mullins 45′)
Montreal Impact-Evan Bush, Ambroise Oyongo, Laurent Ciman, Kyle Fisher, Adrian Arriegui (Patrice Bernier 69′), Hernan Bernardello, Ignacio Piatti, Ballou Jean Yves-Tabla (Callum Mallace 78′), Daniel Lovitz, and Dominic Oduro (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 84′)
Goal- Tabla (13′)
Yellow Cards-Bernardello (45′), Lovitz (49′), and Kyle Fisher (59′)
ATTENDANCE: 14,993
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Referee’s Assistant: Jeremy Hanson, Anthony Vasoli, and Caleb Mendez
Weather: 54 degrees, cloudy, rainy
DC United
Montreal Impact
