A PLUCKY BUNCH
Impact finding ways to win
This Montreal Impact team keeps finding ways to win games without its best player, Ignacio Piatti, in the lineup.
The Impact got a goal from newcomer Omar Browne in the 83rd minute to beat the Chicago Fire 1-0 in front of 15,758 fans on a chilly spring Sunday afternoon at Saputo Stadium.
The Impact improved their record to 5-3-2 and are 3-2-2 in the last seven games without Piatti, who continues to recover from a knee injury. More importantly, the Impact are now tied with D.C. United for first place in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer. D.C. United also has a 5-3-2 record after losing 1-0 to Minnesota United FC on Sunday.
“I think it’s the mentality of the team,” Impact coach Rémi Garde said when asked what has impressed or surprised him most about his team’s performance without Piatti. “We’ve improved a lot since last season. We aren’t so fragile anymore. Everyone gives to the team and it creates an atmosphere for work ethic that everyone is bringing into the team. I’m not surprised, but I’m very proud of that because to win games sometimes it’s about technique, sometimes it’s about tactics. But you can’t win a game if you’re not mentally prepared to battle, because it’s always a battle, especially in MLS.”
Garde was also proud of Browne’s performance after the Panamanian midfielder came on as a substitute in the 40th minute, replacing the injured Clément Bayiha. It was the 24-year-old’s first action with the Impact since joining the club on April 16 on a loan agreement for the remainder of the season with Panamanian club Atlético Independiente de La Chorrera.
Browne’s goal came on a fantastic individual effort as he beat Chicago defender Jorge Corrales with a nifty move near the goal line and just inside the box before driving hard to the net and beating goalkeeper David Ousted in close.
“I’m very happy for him to score a goal,” Garde said. “In a new environment, it’s always very important because it will give the player confidence. He seems to be a little bit shy, and for him, everything is new. He’s a young player. I see that he’s got the talent to be decisive in this league. When I say decisive, it’s not only to score or assists, but be very important for the whole game.”
Browne faces a language barrier since he doesn’t speak English or French. Fellow midfielder Samuel Piette said it helps that defender Bacary Sagna can speak Spanish with him on the pitch.
“At the end of the day, it’s football, and football speaks with your feet, and he proved it today,” Piette said.
“Obviously, he’s not a guy who talks a lot,” Piette added. “But a very good attitude on the pitch. He works for us, he’s not an individual guy who just wants to do well just for himself. A lot of technical quality. His left foot is unbelievable ... we saw it today. He can beat players in tight spaces and I think that’s something that we’ve been lacking in the squad.”
This marks the first time this season the Impact have won back-to-back games, following a 3-0 victory in New England on Wednesday. Goalkeeper Evan Bush, who had to stop only two Chicago shots, now has clean sheets in five of the last six games. The Impact are 2-0-0 at home and 3-3-2 on the road, already matching their road win total from last season when they went 3-12-2 and missed the playoffs.
“The attitude I think changed a lot to go with what (Canadiens GM Marc) Bergevin was saying last year,” said Piette, who is wearing the captain’s arm band in Piatti’s absence. “But I think the attitude that we have toward each other and the objective in the team, everyone is working for each other. There are no egos … even last year we didn’t have egos, but it wasn’t really clear what we wanted to have. This year we have a clear identity and tactics are pretty clear, so I think that’s the biggest difference, for sure.”
Piatti trained with his teammates Friday and Garde said he’ll continue to do so this week as the Impact prepares to play New York City FC next Saturday at Saputo Stadium (5 p.m., TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio). Garde said he’ll have to assess Piatti’s fitness level before deciding if he can play.
“It takes time to come back, but as soon as he will be available, of course it will be a warm welcome for him inside the team,” the coach said. scowan@postmedia.com Twitter.com/ StuCowan1
This year we have a clear identity and tactics are pretty clear, so I think that’s the biggest difference ...