Union Plays to 1-1 Draw With Montreal

Report From Philadelphia Union

CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union drew with Montreal Impact in front of a crowd of 18,500 Saturday night at Talen Energy Stadium. The draw gives Philadelphia a record of 11-11-7 on the year. The Union will hit the road for a three week expedition starting with Portland next Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. (ET).

 

Montreal created multiple scoring threats early in Saturday’s match. In the seventh minute of play Lucas Ontivero was set up perfectly in the box and was all alone in front of Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, but his shot was sent wide of the net. A minute later Partice Bernier found himself in a similar situation but again came up empty and the match remained scoreless.

 

Philadelphia created a golden opportunity in the 26th minute of the match. MLS All-Star Keegan Rosenberry sent a pass the length of the field that took a friendly bounce off the Talen Energy turf and over the head of Montreal defender Laurent Ciman. Striker C.J. Sapong was left all alone with Impact goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, but Ciman was able to recover and deflect Sapong’s scoring attempt out of play to keep the match scoreless.

 

Blake made the save of the night in the 30th minute against Montreal’s leading goal-scorer. Ignacio Piatti cut through the Union defense, but Blake came charging out of his net and slide to block Piatti’s shot.

 

Tranquillo Barnetta got the Union on the board in the dying moments the first half. Barnetta dribbled into the Montreal zone and struck the ball with his left foot outside the 18 and snuck the shot past the outstretched arms of Kronberg to give the Union a 1-0 lead after the first 45.

 

Philadelphia fought the entire second half to record their second goal of the night, but Montreal ultimately found an equalizer in the 88th minute of play, thanks to the head of Matteo Mancosu. Both clubs fought to earn three points late, but the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

 

Philadelphia will return to action looking to break the club record for wins in a season this Saturday when they travel to Portland to take in the Timbers. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. (ET) and will be televised on The Comcast Network.

 

 

MATCH RECAP

Philadelphia Union 1, Montreal Impact 1

Talen Energy Stadium

Chester, Pa.

 

FINAL MATCH STATS

Shots: 14-9 Montreal

Shots on Target: 5-3 Montreal

Possession: 53.1 – 46.9 Union

Passing Accuracy: 81-75 Union

Fouls: 14-8 Union

Corners: 4-2 Union

Duels won: 44-43 Montreal

Tackles won: 14-11 Union

 

SCORING SUMMARY

PHI – Tranquillo Barnetta 5 (Fabian Herbers 5) 45’

MTL – Matteo Mancosu 3 (Donny Toia 2, Hernán Bernardello 1)

 

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY

PHI – Chris Pontius (Yellow) 34’

MTL – Laurent Ciman (Yellow) 48’

PHI – C.J. Sapong (Yellow) 54’

MTL – Hassoun Camara (Yellow) 60’

 

 

PHILADELPHIA UNION STARTING XI

Andre Blake; Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Josh Yaro, Keegan Rosenberry; Warren Creavalle, Alejandro Bedoya;  Chris Pontius (Roland Alberg 82’), Tranquillo Barnetta ©, Fabian Herbers (Ilsinho 70’); C.J. Sapong

 

Substitutes not used: John McCarthy, Ken Tribbett, Ray Gaddis, Roland Alberg, Charlie Davies, Ilsinho, Brian Carroll

 

MONTREAL IMPACT STARTING XI

Eric Kronberg; Ambroise Oyongo, Laurent Ciman, Hassoun Camara, Donny Toia; Hernan Bernardello, Marco Donadel (Harry Shipp 79’); Patrice Benier © (Didier Drogbag 61’);Lucas Ontivero (Dominic Oduro 69’), Ignacio Piatti; Matteo Mancosu

 

Substitutes not used: Maxime Crepeau, Kyle Bekker, Victory Cabrera, Calum Mallace

 

OFFICIALS

Silviu Petrescu (referee), Joe Fletcher (assistant referee), Daniel Belleau (assistant referee), Pierre-Luc Lauziere (fourth).

 

ATTENDANCE

18,500