Union lose big one to Impact

Montreal, Quebec – The Philadelphia Union (12-11-10) fell to the Montreal Impact (14-12-7), 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Stade Saputo as a first-half goal from Fabinho was matched by two from Montreal in the second half. 

The Union will face Sporting Kansas City next week at PPL Park in the final match of the MLS Regular Season, hoping for an opportunity to advance to MLS Cup Playoffs (3 p.m. ET, NBC Sports).

It was the Union that opened the scoring account in the 29th minute as midfielder Fabinho finished off a nice run into the box with a great goal past Montreal goalkeeper Troy Perkins. However, the Impact would answer in the second half after goals from forward Marco Di Vaio and Karl Ouimette snapped the Impact’s six-game unbeaten streak.

The Union could be eliminated from the MLS playoff hunt if Houston tops New York on Sunday.

“Giving up two goals like that is unlucky for us – we have to do better,” said Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath. “We should’ve tried to get a better control of the game in the second half because I thought we played a very solid first half. It should have been us dictating the game ourselves and not [Montreal] dictating that last 45 minutes.”
It was a Union team devoid of some of its better playmakers. The club was without forward-midfielder Sebastien Le Toux due to a foot injury and midfielder Michael Farfan, who was suspended for yellow card accumulation.

One positive was the second half substitution of forward Antoine Hoppenot in the 67th minute.

Hoppenot, who served as the team’s spark plug for much of the season, was at it again, running at the tired legs of Montreal’s back line. Hoppenot managed to create chances in the box for his club, but again it came down to the inability to finish chances and create that second goal.

“We played a good first half,” said Union forward Conor Casey. “But in the second half, they threw numbers forward and made it tough. I did think we had a couple of decent chances in the second half, as well. We just weren’t able to put one away.”

Now it comes down to the final game of the MLS Regular Season. Depending on one of those results holding true in the aforementioned Eastern Conference matches, three points against Sporting Kansas City is a must. Earlier this season, the Union traveled to Kansas City and pulled three points after a calculated lineup and formation proved successful.

“This is a playoff game before the playoffs,” Union manager John Hackworth said postgame, referring to the match with the Impact. However, the same hold true heading into next Saturday. “Our expectations were that we were going to come in and get a victory… the players understand what’s on the line. We’ve all talked about it. And if we are still mathematically alive heading into next weekend, then you can trust we’ll be putting everything we can into it.”

BOX SCORE
Montreal Impact 2, Philadelphia Union 1
Saturday, Oct. 19; 2:00 p.m. ET
Stade Saputo, Montreal, Quebec

SCORING SUMMARY
PHI: Fabinho 29’ (Kleberson)
MTL: Di Vaio 64’ (Arnaud, Martins)
MTL: Ouimette 84’ (Mapp)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
PHI: Carroll 39’ (caution)
PHI: Casey 40’ (dissent)
MTL: Di Vaio 56’ (caution)
MTL: Ferrari 78’ (caution)
MTL: Camara 89’ (caution)
PHI: Okugo 89’ (dissent)
MTL: Pisanu 90+2’ (time wasting)

UNION STARTING 11
MacMath, Williams, Okugo, Parke, Gaddis (Torres 88’), Carroll, Kléberson, Cruz (Fernandes 76’), Casey, Fabinho, McInerney (Hoppenot 67’).

IMPACT STARTING 11
Perkins, Camara, Nesta (Lefevre 89’), Ferrari, Ouimette, Bernardello, Bernier (Wenger 53’), Mapp, Martins, Arnaud (Pisanu 71’), Di Vaio.