Montreal’s second biggest signing of the summer transfer window came through in the most important moment of the season. Signed on the heels of Drogba mania this summer, Johan Venegas has flow under the radar in Major League Soccer circles as his Ivorian teammate terrorized the league. But on Sunday it was Venegas whose name was in the spotlight as his goal gave the Impact the 2-1 win over Columbus Crew SC at Stade Saputo stadium.
Columbus opened the match with a goal by midfielder Federico Higuain in the 33rd minute. But Montreal would respond back thanks to goals by Patrice Bernier in the 37th minute and Venegas in the 77th minute. The loss was just the Crew’s second of the season when leading a match. They will host the Impact next Sunday needing a goal and a defensive stand to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Photo Credit: Montreal Impact
With both coaches using attacking formations (Montreal went with a 4-3-3 while Columbus employed 4-5-1) attacking opportunities were aplenty early on. Crew SC took the first chance with Higuain feeding forward Kei Kamara a dangerous through ball in the 12th minute. The Sierra Leone international and candidate for MLS MVP hammered his shot towards the bottom right corner of the Impact goal. Montreal goalkeeper only narrowly prevented Columbus from taking the early advantage with a brilliant diving save.
Montreal would respond to Columbus’ advances with their own goal-scoring opportunity. In the 15th minute Drogba’s shot at the top of the penalty box was on target and appeared to be destined for the back of Columbus’ net. But Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark would bail out his tawdry defense with a brilliant leaping save.
With both sides trading blows on the attacking end it was only a matter of time before one team’s defense would crack. That would happen in the 33rd minute when Higuain would volley home an errant pass from Drogba to give Crew SC the 1-0 advantage. Drogba appeared to be trying to clear away a cross from midfielder Ethan Finlay. However the Ivorian international could not link up with one of his teammates and was punished for his folly.
Photo Credit: Montreal Impact
It would not be long though before the Impact would add their own goal on the scoresheet. Bernier would finish off a corner kick taken by midfielder Ignacio Piatti. Bernier, whose tenure with the club dates back to their time in the North American Soccer League, would score his second goal of the 2015 playoffs after finding a gap around Kamara and heading home his chance.
The second half would prove to be just as explosive as the first half with both sides using their speed and pace in the midfield to move their opponents on the pitch like pawns on a chessboard. Crew SC’s midfield combination of Higuain, Finlay, and Justin Mearam would continue to dictate the pace of the match with simple, small educated passes throughout the center of the pitch. Only until the more attack-minded Impact tandem of Piatti and Dilly Duka began to press did Crew SC get out of their comfort zone.
That simple correction proved to be invaluable for the Impact’s goal-scoring hopes. With the Crew SC midfield up the field Venegas could peel past the Crew SC defense and deliver a searing strike in the 77th minute. Credit to Venegas picking the pocket of Crew SC center-back Gaston Sauro setting up the one-on-one opportunity against Clark.
MATCH REPORT
Montreal Impact- Evan Bush, Donny Toia, Victor Cabrera, Laurent Ciman, Ambroise Oyongo, Nigel Reo-Coker (Callum Mallace 67′, )Patrice Bernier (Johan Venegas 72′,)Marco Donadel, Marco Donadel, Didier Drogba, Ignacio Piatti, and Dominic Oduro (Dilly Suka 61′).
Goals-Patrice Bernier (40′,) and Venegas (77′)
Yellow Cards-Cabrera (45+2′,) Drogba (82′.) and Oyongo (51′)
Columbus Crew SC- Steve Clark, Waylon Francis, Gaston Sauro, Michael Parkhurst, Harrison Afful, Tony Tchani (Kevan George 82′,) , Wil Trapp, Justin Mearam, Federico Higuain, Ethan Finlay (Cedrick Mabwati 67′), and Kei Kamara
Goal- Higuain (33′)
Yellow Cards-Clark (82′)and Sauro (52′)
ATTENDANCE: 17,655
