MONTREAL, QC– Despite generating scoring chances throughout the 90 minutes, the New York Red Bulls fell to the Montreal Impact, 1-0, at Saputo Stadium in front of 12,568 spectators in a friendly between the sides. Montreal, currently playing in the North American Soccer League, is Major League Soccer’s next expansion team that will join the league in 2012.
Red Bulls midfielder Dwayne De Rosario nearly gave the visitors the lead in the 25th minute if it weren’t for the woodwork. Forward Juan Agudelo was stripped of the ball in the Impact box and the Canadian De Rosario got to it first, poking it past goalkeeper Evan Bush and off the right upright. Ten minutes later, forward Thierry Henry flicked in a Rafa Marquez delivery, but the Frenchman was ruled offside by the linesman.
After staying relatively quiet in the attacking third for most of the first half, Montreal earned the only goal of the game in the 37th minute. Defender Philippe Billy had space by the right sideline and swung in a cross to current Montreal and former Toronto FC forward Ali Gerba, who rose above his defender and nodded it into the back of the net.
Both teams made a combined 13 changes at halftime as the Red Bulls searched for an equalizer. New York midfielder John Rooney tried his luck from outside of the penalty box and just missed the top right corner of the net in the 53rd minute. Twelve minutes later, Agudelo bodied off an Impact defender in midfield, raced towards goal and fired a blast that was parried away by a fully extended Bush. With the Red Bulls pressing, Reda Agourram almost doubled Montreal’s lead with four minutes to play, forcing Sutton to block his attempt.
The Red Bulls return home on Sunday, May 15, hosting Chivas USA at 7:00 PM (TV: MSG Plus, Galavision; WQBU 92.7 FM). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or by CLICKING HERE.
New York Red Bulls 0, Montreal Impact 1
May 11, 2011 – Saputo Stadium – Montreal, QC
Scoring Summary:
MTL: Ali Gerba 1 (Philippe Billy 1) 37’
Disciplinary Summary:
MTL: Kevin Hatchi (caution) 42’
NY: Sacir Hot (caution) 82’
New York Red Bulls – Greg Sutton (GK), Jan Gunnar Solli (Chris Albright 46’), Rafa Marquez (Carlos Mendes 46’), Tim Ream (Stephen Keel 46’), Roy Miller (Teddy Schneider 46’), Dane Richards (Matt Kassel 46’, Dan Metzger* 84’), Carl Robinson (Tyler Lassiter 42’, Sacir Hot 68’), Dwayne De Rosario (Sean Davis* 46’), Joel Lindpere (John Rooney 46’) Juan Agudelo, Thierry Henry (Corey Hertzog 46’, Brandon Allen* 84’)
Substitutes Not Used: Bouna Coundoul (GK)
Montreal Impact – Evan Bush (GK), Hicham Aaboubou, Philippe Billy, Simon Gatti, Kevin Hatchi, David Testo (Antonio Ribeiro 46’), Luke Kreamalmeyer (Magnane Diouf 46’), Leonardo Di Lorenzo (Pierre-Rudolph Mayard 46’), Amir Lowery (Nicola Princivalli 46’), Ali Gerba (Reda Agourram 58’), Anthony Le Gall (Idriss Ech Cherqui 46’)
Substitutes Not Used: Maxime Crepeau (GK)
Referee: Geoff Gamble
Referee’s Assistants: Philippe Briere, Pierre Cantave
4th Referee: Francis Latulippe
Attendance: 12,568
* - Non-Roster Player
