Montreal Impact edges York9 FC 1:0 (3:2 agg) to advance to 2019 Canadian Championship Semi-Final

Montreal Impact defeated York9 FC 1:0 (3:2 agg) to advance to the Semi-Final round of the 2019 Canadian Championship in Montreal, QC on 24 July.

Ignacio Piatti returned to actionafter being sidelined for two months by injuries and his 55′ penalty led the Montreal Impact FC to a 1-0 home victory over York9 FC in the Second Leg of the Third Qualifying Round of the 2019 Canadian Championship in front of 14,723 spectators at Saputo Stadium.

Montreal dominated the first half with eight shots, including two on target against three shots for the visiting York9 FC, all off target. Visiting goalkeeper Nathan Ingham had a busy night at the office, making six stops including in the 31′, when he blocked a Max Urruti volley from outside of the surface to the upper right side of the goal.

The host team’s pressure increased back from the break when Canadian Clement Bayiha was frustrated by Ingham at the 49′. Bayiha accepted a pass from Saphir Taider on the right side of the field before his shot was stopped by Ingham’s shoulder.

Four minutes later, Taider thought he was about to open the score when he let go a left foot bullet from outside of the surface, but Ingham came out big on that one and tipped the ball away with a great save.

A York9 FC handball in the box led to the fateful penalty. Piatti sent the ball on a low hard shot to the right while Ingham went the other way. It was 1-0 on the Argentinian’s third Championship goal in nine career games in the tournament.

Again in the 74′, Ingham made a save in the bottom right corner on a right-footed shoot from Max Urruti located outside of the surface.

Late by a goal in the game and needing two to get back in the series, York9 FC started showing urgency in the final 15 minutes. Montreal’s Canadian goalkeeper James Pantemis made his first saves of the night in the 86′ on short-range attempts by Austin Ricci and Manuel Apparicio, but to no avail.

A minute later, Taider hit the crossbar at the other end of the field on a hard shot that failed to increase the lead for the home side.

Montreal concluded the game on 18 shots, with seven on target and three blocked while York9 FC had 11 shots, but only one on target and five blocked.

The visitors’ starting lineup was exactly the same as for the first leg with Canadian Nathan Ingham in goals, with Canadians Roger Thompson and Luca Gasparotto as central defenders along with Diyaeedine Abzi and Morey Doner on the wings. Wataru Murofushi and Canadian Joseph Di Chiara played in front of the back four and behind Canadians Kyle Porter, captain Manuel Aparicio and Ryan Telfer, with Simon Adjei up front.

York9 FC coach Jim Brennan made a first substitution at the hour of play, sending Rodrigo Gattas on the field for Adjei. Austin Ricci made an appearance in the next minute to replace Murofushi and Emilio Estevez came on board for Porter in the 77′.

Back at home the Montreal Impact FC had a different look to start the return leg with Canadian James Pantemis in goal behind a 3-4-3 formation including defenders Rudy Camacho, Daniel Lovitz and Victor Cabrera, from left to right, Canadians Bacary Sagna, Canadian Clement Bayiha, Ken Krolick and Ignacio Piatti in the midfield and Canadian Mathieu Choinière, Max Urruti and Saphir Taider up top.

Montreal coach Remi Garde made a first substitution in the 65′, recalling Piatti to send in Canadian Shamit Shome. Seven minutes later, Orji Okwonkwo replaced Bayiha and an injury to defender Cabrera forced Garde to sub him with Jukka Raitala in the 81′.