Impact Remain Winless in MLS

Through three games in the Montreal Impact’s inaugural season, the team has yet to get one in the win column. The team was shutout 2-0 by the Columbus Crew this past weekend in front of 18,197 at Crew Stadium. My hope for a “fast start” and maybe an early goal on the road was quickly thrown out the window in the 19th minute of play.

At that time, the Impact were forced to play with 10 men the rest of the way because of a straight red card given to Jeb Brovsky. He made contact with Crew midfielder Milovan Mirosevic in the air and was told to hit the showers early.

Mirosevic put the Crew up in the 30th minute on a penalty shot, resulting from a foul against Felipe in the box. A header from forward Olman Vargas in the 66th minute put Columbus up by the final score line of 2-0.

“There’s frustration for obvious reasons,” Impact head coach Jesse Marsch told the team’s official webite. “But even with 10 men, there were good stretches. We fought hard and played for each other. It seems that some bounces are not going our way, but we still have firm belief in who we are and what we are about.”

You would assume the Impact could put their heads down after a red card, especially that early on in a match, but Impact captain Davy Arnaud was happy with his team’s effort after being sent to 10 men.

“Our response to that red was good,” Arnaud said. “As a new team, it may not have been a bad situation to deal with because when you go through tough moments together, you get to prove what you are about. I think we still gave them a tough game.”

The Impact will continue its three game road trip when it travels to play New York on March 31 at 4pm E.T.

Quick facts from the match (via ImpactMontreal.com):

LINEUPS:
MTL – GK – Donovan Ricketts; D – Jeb Brovksy, Tyson Wahl, Matteo Ferrari, Josh Gardner; M – Davy Arnaud, Patrice Bernier (Collen Warner 45’), Felipe, Justin Mapp (Lamar Neagle  69’); F – Justin Braun, Sanna Nyassi (Bernardo Corradi 45’)

*Subs Not Used: GK – Greg Sutton; D – Calum Mallace, Shavar Thomas; F – Mike Fucito

CLB – GK – Andy Gruenebaum; D – Sebastian Miranda (Josh Williams 75’), Chad Marshall, Danny O’Rourke, Shaun Francis; M – Eddie Gaven, Milovan Mirosevic, Kirk Urso, Bernardo Anor; F – Olman Vargas (Ethan Finlay 89’), Emilio Renteria (Aaron Schoenfeld 69’)

GOALS:
CLB – Mirosevic 30’ (PK)
CLB – Vargas (Francis) 66’

EJECTION:
MTL – Brovsky 19’

CAUTIONS:
MTL – Nyassi 29’
MTL – Gardner 34’
MTL – Warner 52’
CLB – Urso 69’
CLB – Francis 85’

(image courtesy of impactmontreal.com)