Montreal Impact Names A New Coach

Jesse Marsch was named the new head coach for the Montreal Impact on Wednesday, August 10, 2011. Marsch will start as head coach in 2012 when the team enters the Major League Soccer. Photograph by: Dave Sidaway, THE GAZETTE

Marsch Named New Impact Coach -- The Montreal Gazette

MONTREAL- The Montreal Impact announced Wednesday morning that Jesse Marsch has been named the team's new head coach, taking over when the team makes the jump to Major League Soccer for the 2012 season.

Before joining the Impact, Marsch most recently served as assistant coach for the United States men's national team, helping the Americans advance to the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup. Marsch has also coached and worked with the U23, U18, U17 and U15 youth national team programs in the U.S.. At the collegiate level, Marsch was a member of the Northwestern University coaching staff from 2000-2005.

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My Comment: I wish him luck (he will need it).

Impact Unveil New Logo

The Montreal Impact unveiled their new logo during Saturday's home game. It's being introduced ahead of the team's entry into the MLS next year. (MontrealImpact.com)

Impact Unveil New Logo During Loss To Stars -- CBC

Logo is blue and black emblem with fleur de lys.

Simone Bracalello scored twice to lead the Minnesota Stars past the Montreal Impact 3-1 in North American Soccer League action Saturday.

Defender Neil Hlavaty opened the scoring for the Stars (7-4-7) in the 17th minute before Bracalello added two more including the winner in the 75th minute.

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My Comment: The fleur de lys looks silly .... but .... the Impacts play is even worse.

Montreal Impact Celebrate At City Hall

From CTV:

After defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the USL Championship Final on Saturday, players for the Montreal Impact were honoured at city hall Tuesday night.

There was lots of cheering as the soccer team's 24 players and three coaches presented their Championship Cup to Mayor Gerald Tremblay, and signed the city's book of honour.

The Impact first won the championship in 1994, then again in 2004.

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Update #1: Impact in Bell Centre spotlight -- Montreal Gazette

Update #2: Montreal Impact, anatomy of a champion -- Soccer America

My Comment: I must confess that I was surprised when they won. BUt between you and I .... this is what I call a happy surprise.

Montreal Impact 3 Vancouver Whitecaps 1

Montreal Impact Defeat Vancouver Whitecaps -- CTV

MONTREAL — Tony Donatelli, Joey Gjertsen and Roberto Brown scored in the first half as the Montreal Impact defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 to win the United Soccer League First Division championship before a sellout crowd of 13,034 at Saputo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Impact won the two-game, total-goals series 6-3 on aggregate in the league's first all-Canadian final. They claimed their third league title after wins in 1994 and 2004. Montreal had won the first leg 3-2 in Vancouver last week.

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More On Yesterday's Soccer Championship Match

Montreal Impact defeat Vancouver Whitecaps to win USL First Division title -- Canadian Press
Whitecaps Fall to Montreal Impact 3-1 -- Our Sports Central
Whitecaps angry over red card in loss to Montreal Impact in final -- Canadian Press
Nash is trying not to see red over card call -- Vancouver Sun
Sellout at Saputo -- Vancouver Sun

Impact Sells Out Saputo Stadium For USL Final

From The Montreal Gazette:

MONTREAL – The Impact announced Wednesday that the decisive match of the USL-1 championship final against the Vancouver Whitecaps, which will be played Saturday at 2:30 pm at Saputo Stadium, is sold out, all 13,034 tickets having been purchased. “With a couple of days remaining to this historic matchup at Saputo Stadium, we are thrilled by the enthusiasm shown by our supporters for this championship final, a first all-Canadian final,” Impact executive vice-president Richard Legendre said. “It’s a very special occasion to be able to play this decisive match in front of our fans. The atmosphere is going to be extraordinary.”

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My Comment: No one expected them to reach this far. It is certainly going to be cold this Saturday.

Impact Advance To USL Final

Impact Beat Islanders To Set Up All-Canadian Final With Whitecaps -- Canadian Press

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico — Peter Byers and Eduardo Sebrango scored as the Montreal Impact advanced to the United Soccer Leagues First Division final with a 2-1 win over the third-seeded Puerto Rico Islanders on Sunday in the second leg of their semifinal series.

The fifth-seeded Impact also won the first leg on the series 2-1 in Montreal on Tuesday, giving them a 4-2 aggregate win overall.

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More News On The Impact

Impact advance to USL final -- Montreal Gazette
Impact Advances to USL-1 Final -- Our Sports Central
Montreal Impact advance to USL final -- Vancouver Sun

Impact 2 Islanders 1

Impact Chills Wisiting Islanders -- Montreal Gazette

Win first leg of USL First Division semifinal 2-1.

Will a one-goal cushion be good enough to advance to the championship?

The Montreal Impact will find out Sunday, when it plays the second game of its USL First Division home-and-home, total-goal semifinal series with the Puerto Rico Islanders.

After Thursday night’s 2-1 win before 9,835 shivering fans at Saputo Stadium, the Impact heads to balmy Bayamon, Puerto Rico, where it will try to protect that one-goal lead against the team with the best home record in the league.

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Impact Advance To USL Semifinal

Cedric Joqueviel of the Montreal Impact in Game 2 of two-game playoff series against the Charleston Battery in Charleston, S.C. Photograph by: Pépé, Montreal Impact

From The Montreal Gazette:

Defeat Battery 4-1 on aggregate with 2-1 win Sunday.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Carrying a two-goal advantage into yesterday’s USL First Division quarterfinal series finale against the fourth-seeded Charleston Battery, the No. 5 Montreal Impact could have been content to sit back and defend.

But that wasn’t the case, as the Impact pushed forward on the attack, recording a 2-1 Game 2 win and a 4-1 aggregate victory at Blackbaud Stadium.

Montreal (14-11-7) prevailed 2-0 in Game 1 Thursday at Saputo Stadium.

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My Comment: I am not the only who is surprised.

Montreal Impact Laughs Off David Beckham Rumours

Soccer superstar David Beckham won't be lacing up with the Montreal Impact anytime soon. Photograph by: Mike Stobe, Getty Images

From The Montreal Gazette:

But club is mum on Beckham-Saputo partnership.

MONTREAL – Impact technical director Nick De Santis scoffed at the latest rumour involving his team and British soccer star David Beckham.

The rumour had Beckham being loaned by his current club, the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, to the Impact for the balance of the United Soccer Leagues First Division regular season and playoffs.

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More News On Beckham And The Montreal Impact

Beckham may have interest in bringing Montreal into MLS -- National Post
Beckham may join Montreal MLS bid: report -- CBC
Impact's MLS bid interests Beckham -- Globe And Mail

Montreal Impact Deliver Hard-Fought Win

Montreal Impact Leonardo Di Lorenzo (L) tackles a Carolina Railhawks Matt Wilson during United Soccer Leagues First Division 2nd half soccer action at the Saputo Stadium in Montreal, Wednesday September 02, 2009. Photograph by: Phil Carpenter, The Gazette

From The Montreal Gazette:

Montreal ­ You don’t have to look past Matt Jordan as a player who is the definition of a consummate professional.

When the Impact’s veteran goalkeeper lost his starting job to backup Srdjan Djekanovic for a seven-game United Soccer Leagues First Division stretch in midseason, you

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There Will Be Soccer At Saputo Stadium In 2010, Joey Sapuo Says

Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo was emphatic Tuesday that there will be professional soccer played at Saputo Stadium next season even if it takes the creation of a new league operated by the Team Owners Association, comprised of a number of teams currently in the United Soccer Leagues First Division.

From The Montreal Gazette:

Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo was emphatic Tuesday that there will be professional soccer played at Saputo Stadium next season even if it takes the creation of a new league operated by the Team Owners Association, comprised of a number of teams currently in the United Soccer Leagues First Division.

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Portland 1 Montreal 0

Portland Timbers Mandjou Keita takes the bal from Montreal Impact Nevio Pizzolitto (rear, left) and Simon Gatti during United Soccer Leagues First Division action in Montreal Wednesday August 12 2009. Photograph by: Allen McInnis, The Gazette

From The Montreal Gazette:

MONTREAL- A strong effort, spoiled.

It best describes the crushing 1-0 loss the Impact suffered at the hands of the best team in the United Soccer Leagues First Division in Portland Timbers, before a paid attendance of 11,247 at Saputo Stadium Tuesday night.

Timbers forward Ryan Pore snapped a goal-less game, converting on a counterattack in the 83rd minute after the Impact had carried the play for much of the second half and appeared to be headed for no worst than a draw.

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Montreal 4, Cleveland 1

Impact's Ciaran O'Brien (left) celebrates his goal with teammate Edouardo Sebrango in the first half of United Soccer League game against the Cleveland City Stars Wednesday.
Photograph by: John Mahoney, The Gazette

Impact Finally Finds Back Of The Net -- The Gazette

Ends five-game USL winless streak with four goals

Hey! It was the worst team in the league.

The Impact snapped a five-game winless streak by scoring for the first time in nearly 460 minutes of play during a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland City Stars before 12,213 fans at Saputo Stadium last night.

Forward Eduardo Sebrango scored twice while forward Joey Gjertsen and midfielder Ciaran O’Brien, who assisted on Sebrango’s second of the game, added the others as the Impact won for only the first time since a 1-0 decision over Miami FC last month.

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Impact Fail To Score For Fifth Straight Game, Fall 1-0 To Islanders

From The Canadian Press:

MONTREAL — Cristian Arrieta scored on a penalty kick and the Puerto Rico Islanders took sole possession of first place in the United Soccer Leagues First Division with a 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact on Sunday.

Puerto Rico (9-4-7) was awarded the penalty in the 45th minute when Impact defender Adam Braz tripped Islanders forward Nick Addlery in the 18-yard box. Arrieta scored his seventh goal when he unleashed a shot to the right of the Impact net, leaving no chance to goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic who dove to the opposite side.

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Update: Impact held scoreless for fifth straight game. -- Canada.com

Montreal Impact Player Suspended In Scuffle

Sandro Grande was suspended following an altercation with captain Mauro Biello during Saturday night's game in Minnesota. Photograph by: Jeremy Olson , Minnesota Thunder

From The Montreal Gazette:

MONTREAL- Following an altercation between midfielder Sandro Grande and captain Mauro Biello during Saturday night’s game in Minnesota, the Montreal Impact has announced disciplinary sanctions against Grande for unsportmanlike conduct.

A scuffle broke out between Grande and Biello during the game, in which Grande apparently grabbed Biello by the neck.

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Antoniuk scores in 68th As Charlston Battery Down Montreal Impact 1-0

From The Canadian Press:

MONTREAL — Battery forward Daniel Antoniuk scored in the 68th minute as the Charleston Battery won 1-0 over the Montreal Impact in United Soccer League action on Sunday.

On a cross from midfielder Scott Buete, Antoniuk took a low left-foot shot from near the penalty box that beat Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan to his right.

The loss slides Montreal to 5-6-2 while Charleston moves to 8-2-6.

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Impact Bounces Back From Humiliation

Impact midfielder Rocco Placentino fights Whitecaps defender Wes Knight yesterday at Saputo Stadium. Photograph by: Dario Ayala, Montreal Gazette

From The Montreal Gazette:

Impact 2, Whitecaps 1 Players rested against Toronto return to edge Vancouver again

It wasn’t the team’s best performance of the season, but neither was it the worst, which arguably came less than 48 hours earlier.

The Impact bounced back from Thursday’s humiliating 6-1 loss to Toronto FC in the finale of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship with a hard-fought and well-played 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps as the club returned to regular-season action in the United Soccer Leagues First Division before 12,287 at Saputo Stadium yesterday.

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Whitecaps Eliminate Impact From Canadian Championship

From The CBC:

The Vancouver Whitecaps used a second-half goal from Ethan Gage to defeat the Montreal Impact 1-0 Wednesday night and set up a showdown with Toronto FC next week in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

The Whitecaps and Toronto both have six points in the three-team, six-game tournament. The loss ended any hope Montreal had of defending its Canadian title.

The winning goal came after Montreal defender Eduardo Sebrango, a former Whitecap, tried to clear the ball from in front of his own net. Gage, an 18-year-old from Cochrane, Alta., intercepted the attempt and beat Montreal goalkeeper Matt Jordan from about 18 yards out.

Vancouver improved its record to 2-1-0. Toronto is 2-0-0 while Montreal dropped to 0-2-0.

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Montreal Impact Get Ready To Start New Season Still Hungry From The Last Season

From The Canadian Press:

MONTREAL — It was only two months ago that the Montreal Impact were saluted with a standing ovation from 55,000 blue-and-white clad fans at Olympic Stadium after a stunning 2-0 win in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals.

And then came disaster - blowing a 4-1 aggregate lead in the final 36 minutes of the second leg of the same quarter-final against Santos Laguna in Mexico that put an end to their international dreams.

But the highs and lows they lived by qualifying for the first CONCACAF club championship, and then blazing through the group stage to the quarter-finals, has the Impact hungry for more as they get set to begin another season.

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The Impact Collapse In Mexico

Impact's Tony Donatelli holds his head in disbelief after Thursday's loss.
Photograph by: REUTERS, The Gazette

'We Feel We Let Down Our Fans' -- The Montreal Gazette

Impact's second-half collapse in Mexico ranks among worst soccer meltdowns.

The Impact's colossal collapse in the second half of the decisive game in a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against Mexico's Santos Laguna ranks among the worst meltdowns in professional soccer.

The 1985-1986 Cup Winners' Cup quarterfinal between West Germany's Bayer Uerdingen and Dynamo Dresden of East Germany is considered by many to be the worst. Uerdingen scored six unanswered goals, including four in the final 29 minutes in the return leg of their series to win 7-3 on aggregate.

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My Comment: You win some and you lose some. But this lost was a disappointment.