Photo Credit: D.C. United
Tampa Bay, FL-Didier Drogba who? Over the course of the 2016 MLS off-season Montreal Impact supporters have had to deal with a flurry of rumors, gossip an innuendo regarding the Ivorian international sensation. Yet missing among all of the clickbait articles is a little nugget of information: the Impact already have a pretty good striker. Fueled by new teammate Harry Shipp, Dominic Oduro put two goals past D.C. United to give the Montreal a 4-1 win in their Suncoast Invitational finale in Tampa.
With the Impact still in the heat of preseason and United about to begin the knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League each team came into this friendly with different expectations. While Impact coach Mauro Biello fielded most of his regular starting eleven, United coach Ben Olsen put in a experimental side made up rookies and reserves. Of the starting eleven that Olsen fielded only defender Markus Halsti, midfielder Miguel Aguilar, and forward Alvaro Saborio started more than five matches last season for United.
The Impact took advantage of a weakened D.C. United side by using their veterans to consistently press the young D.C. defense. In the eighth minute newly acquired Impact midfielder Harry Shipp chipped over the United defense and hit a surging Dominic Oduro down the right flank. Oduro made his own effort at a chip this time on target. His circus floater went over United goalkeeper Travis Worra to give the Impact the early advantage.
Montreal would continue to hit at the right flank of United which featured Markus Halsti, who normally plays midfield, and an Academy Player. In the 18th minute Impact forward Michael Salazar would get behind Halsti and finish off a quick inside pass from Shipp to put Montreal ahead 2-0. Salazar was a second round pick in this year’s Major League Soccer SuperDraft and is currently a member of the Belize national team.
Oduro would strike again in the 31st minute putting Montreal ahead 3-0. His goal came via an unusual source: midfielder Eric Alexander’s backside. After making a defensive stop United center-back Jalen Robinson attempted to end the Impact’s goal-scoring chance. However, his clear went off of Alexander and was ripe for the picking by Oduro. The Ghanaian went past Robinson and hit a low shot beyond the reach of Worra.
United coach Ben Olsen made a strategic substitution late in the first half, taking out rookie Julian Buescher and bringing in Lamar Neagle. The move would pay off handsomely for United in the 38th minute with the former Seattle Sounders winger hitting a cross into the box for a surging Alvaro Saborio. Saborio made the deft touch past Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush to close the gap to 3-1.
After bringing in several trialists early in the second half, Olsen would switch to the first team late in hopes of giving them some matchtime ahead of Tuesday A Steve Birnbaum cross into Nick De Leon in the 76th appeared destined for the back of the net. However, De Leon’s shot would hit the bar. Newly acquired midfielder Marcelo Sarvas also provided De Leon with a cross late. Once again De Leon came just short of providing United their second goal of the match.
Montreal would cement their preseason victory with a late goal by Jamaican international Romario Williams in the 86th minute.
D.C. United will travel to Mexico City on Tuesday to take on Queteraro in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League series (8PM Fox Sports 2). Montreal will continue their Florida preseason tour on Tuesday when they travel to Clearwater to take on Toronto FC.
MATCH RECAP
D.C. United-
Goal-Alvaro Saborio (38′)
Montreal Impact-
Goals-Dominic Oduro (5′, 31′), Michael Salazar (18′), and Romario Williams (86′)
