By Luis Martinez @canadaluis
After two defeats, the Impact accumulated another three points on Saturday and got a little bit of revenge against Columbus Crew SC. Buoyed by goals by Hassoun Camara and Kyle Bekker the Impact snapped their two game winning streaking besting the Crew 2-0 in front 22,053 in Olympic Stadium.
After a slow first half, minutes within the second half IMFC pocketed their first goal of the match. Defender Hassoun Camara polished off a corner kick taken by Lucas Ontivero with a deft header in the 48th minute. The goal was Camara’s first of the season and his first since July of 2014.
Mauro Biello then proceeded to make three different substitutions to shake things up. The gaffer brought on Johan Venegas, Ambroise Oyongo, and Callum Mallace. Biello’s shift from an attacking to defensive posture paid off with the Impact limiting Crew SC to just two shots on target.
Oyongo would actually prove to be critical on the attacking end as well. His chip into the box for defender Kyle Bekker paid off with the George Mason University alum putting a second past Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark. The goal was Bekker’s first of the 2016 campaign.
It is important to note that the ghost of the synthetic turf was again at play. Not only is it limiting certain IMFC players to play on home turf, but it also seems to be affecting visiting clubs at the Olympic Stadium. Let’s see in future match-ups, which will be held at the Saputo Stadium, if the natural turf will change certain dynamics of the game for both the home team and visiting teams.
Stay tuned for next week’s IMFC match against Chicago Fire at Toyota Park at 5PM Eastern Time.
Montreal Impact
Columbus Crew SC
