Impact Still Unable To Find Back Of The Net

MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact (5-8-3) lost 1-0 against the Puerto Rico Islanders (9-4-7), Sunday, in front of 11,827 spectators, at Saputo Stadium, in its first match of the second half of the season.

The Islanders scored the game winning goal at the 45th minute when defender Cristian Arrieta netted his 7th goal of the season on a penalty kick. Arrieta unleashed a shot to the right of the goal, leaving no chance to goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic who dove to the opposite side. On the previous sequence, defender Adam Braz tripped forward Nick Addlery in the 18-yard box.

“We certainly deserved better today,” said assistant coach Andrea Di Pietrantonio, who replaced head coach Marc Dos Santos serving a suspension for the match. “We made a defensive error and they made us pay for it by scoring on a penalty. When you don’t score goals, a situation like this one is even more painful. We are currently lacking confidence in front of the net. We will have to go over the positive things we did today for the next match.”

For a fifth consecutive game, the Impact has been unable to find the back of the net, which ties a team record. Montreal has not scored in the last 460 minutes of play.

“We created scoring chances and we moved the ball well during the whole game,” said team captain Mauro Biello. “Lately, we are having difficulty winning games so we have to work harder and find that confidence that we had last season.”

Forward Roberto Brown was issued a red card at the end of the match following an argument with the referee.

Defender Adam Braz will serve an automatic one-match suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card this season.

With this victory, the Islanders are now alone atop the USL First Division standings.

The Montreal Impact will play its next game against the Cleveland City Stars, Wednesday, at Saputo Stadium, at 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com).

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
10th minute – Following a deep pass from midfielder Tony Donatelli, Roberto Brown, who was surrounded by three Islanders players, fired a high shot from the edge of the box that goalkeeper Bill Gaudette deflected with a dive to his left.

67th minute – After weaving his way through the Islanders defense, forward Eduardo Sebrango took a weak shot from inside the six-yard area that Islanders goalkeeper Bill Gaudette stopped by diving to the ground.

85th minute – Defender Nevio Pizzolitto deflected with a header a free kick from Ciaran O’Brien, but Gaudette made the save by diving on the ground to his left.

NEXT MATCHES
• Wednesday, July 22 – vs Cleveland – Saputo Stadium – 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
• Saturday, July 25 – @ Austin – Nelson Field – 8:30 pm (USLlive.com)
• Saturday, July 25 – EA Guingamp @ FC Bordeaux – Olympic Stadium – 3 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990)*
• Tuesday, July 28 – vs FC Bordeaux – Saputo Stadium – 7:30 pm*
• Saturday, August 1 – @ Miami – FIU Stadium – 8:00 pm (USLlive.com)
*International games

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