Thoughts on DC United 1 : 0 Montreal Impact

by Sean Maslin

It is not how a team starts a season, it is how they finish that truly matters. Although for supporters the early part of the season can be a tad frustrating (and cold) it is the little things, the adjustments that teams make that make over the course of the match that make early games fascinating sites to watch. Nowhere was this more apparent than in D.C. United’s 1-0 victory over the Montreal Impact on Saturday.

Although their results could not have been more different in CONCACAF Champions League play, it seemed as though clubs benefited from the other having played mid-week. Both the Impact and United displayed excellent passing and seemed to have ironed out many of the issues that teams typically face on Match-day One. That is not to say that both teams were perfect, but there was a certain level of confidence and understanding that both teams exhibited that isn’t normally seen at this early stage of the season

But credit should go to the Montreal Impact defense, who followed up their impressive showing in the CONCACAF Champions League against Pachuca with an equally strong performance Saturday. Impact center-backs Laurent Ciman and Hassoun Camara, coupled with defensive-midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, forced United to rely on long-range chances. United’s lone chance inside of the Impact’s penalty box came from midfielder Nick De Leon, who followed up on a steal by Arrieta in the 18^th minute and hit a low shot just missing the left corner of the goal.

Rolfe and forward Jairo Arrieta had several strong chances for United in the first-half (including a chip shot by Rolfe in the 38^th minute that forced Impact Goalkeeper Evan Bush to make the sprawling save). But Impact manager Frank Klopas’ strategy in the center of clogging the center of the pitch paid off, at least initially.

The Rolfe-Arrieta relationship will be critical for United as they continue to adjust without having their top three scorers from 2014 (Fabian Espindola, Luis Silva, and Eddie Johnson) for the time being. The two showed some promise in Arrieta’s goal in the 58^th minute when Rolfe was able to find him in open space with only Bush to beat.

From an Impact perspective, this team might still be a bit of work in progress. Although the club looked very strong on defense, there appears to still be more work that needs to be done on the attacking half. Aside from a strike by defender Donny Toia in the first-half, the club had minimal opportunities to take the lead.

Impact supporters should be pleased by the play of midfielder Ignacio Piatti and forward Jack McInerney late in the match. The two linked up in a dangerous goal-scoring opportunity in the 81^st minute where McInerney had a one-on-one opportunity against Hamid. Had Hamid not taken the correct angle a goal would have been likely. The Impact’s physical advantages wore down on the United defense late but were unable to equalize.

It takes time for teams to get to know one another and for players to develop a rapport and understanding on the pitch. Both clubs showed enough positives early on that neither group of supporters should be upset about their play. The key will be how each club builds off of this match.