IMPACT BEATS ATLANTA 1-0

[François]

IMPACT BEATS ATLANTA 1-0


MONTREAL, July 20, 2003 — Sita-Taty Matondo’s goal scored at the 18th minute of play, his fourth of the season, was enough for the Montreal Impact to clinch a 1-0 win against the Atlanta Silverbacks, Sunday, at Claude Robillard Stadium. An attendance record was set for a second straight game, as the Impact played in front of 8,307 spectators. Last Wednesday, 8,237 fans saw the Impact lose 3-2 to the Toronto Lynx. Montreal has a 5-1-2 home record so far this season.

Although the Impact offense only scored once, it dominated the game with 17 shots towards Bryheem Hancock’s net, compared to only four for the Silverbacks. Eduardo Sebrango and Zé Roberto each took four shots, the latter hitting the crossbar at the 58th minute. Montreal took 10 corner kicks while Atlanta only had one. Goalkeeper Greg Sutton collected his seventh shutout in17 starts.

"Before the game, we talked about getting back on track defensively, so it’s nice to get the shutout," said head coach Bob Lilley. "Our goal is to find a balance between offence and defence, and today our defence was good, while we also created some good scoring chances. We played well, we were just unable to finish."

"We wanted to get back to the things we do well defensively," said defender Nevio Pizzolitto (photo), who was starting his first game since his return from the Gold Cup tournament with the Canadian national team. "We wanted to stress team defense, good connections between players, all the little things that make a difference and help us stay sharp."

Pizzolitto picked up an assist on the game’s only goal. Following a scramble in front of the net, Matondo, a former player with Panellinios in the Quebec Elite League, scored after getting hold of a loose ball while he was standing at the right post.

"Everybody was battling away and I found myself alone with the ball. When you have chances like that, you can’t miss," said Matondo, the Impact’s leading scorer among the team’s rookies with a total of eight points. "My main goal is to make a place for myself on the team and when I get a chance to score, to take advantage of it. I don’t plan to stop here, that’s for sure."

The victory lifts the Impact back on top of the Northeast Division, one point ahead of the Rochester Raging Rhinos. The Rhinos have one game in hand and will play their next game against the Kickers in Richmond, Tuesday.

The Impact will play the last match of a four-game homestand this Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (7:30 pm, CJAD), and will then travel to Atlanta to face the Silverbacks once more, on Saturday, July 26 (6 pm).

SOMMAIRE/GAME SUMMARY
Impact de Montréal 1
Atlanta Silverbacks 0

Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard

Buteurs/Goal scorers:
18: MTL Sita-Taty Matondo (Nevio Pizzolitto)

Formations partantes/Starting line-ups
MTL: Greg Sutton, Nevio Pizzolitto, Gabriel Gervais, Lloyd Barker, David Fronimadis (Abraham François 66), Zé Roberto, Patrick Leduc, Chris Williams (Chris Lemire 66), Martin Nash (Jason DiTullio 82), Eduardo Sebrango, Sita-Taty Matondo (Mauro Biello 52).

ATL: Bryheem Hancock, Carl Fletcher (Martin Klinger 70), Alan Woods, Joard Odera, Byron Mitchell (Josh Barton 44), Frank M’Bemba, Carlos Parra, Shakar Asad, Mac Cozier (David Moore 34), John Nusum, Velko Iotov.

MTL : ATL
Buts/Goals – 1:0
Tirs/Shots – 17:4
Arrêts/Saves – 1:7
Fautes/Fouls – 12:11
Hors-jeux/Offsides – 5:1
Corners – 10:1
Avert./Cautions – Aucun/None.

Assist./Attend.:
8,307

Arbitre/Referee
Keith Pike

Juges de touche/Linesmen
Yannick Plante, Pierre Cantave

4e officiel/4th official
Tiger Liu

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SOURCE:
bcomm

INFO:
Stéphane Banfi
514-328-3668 (ext. 27)