Chivas USA (5-7-3) defeated the Montreal Impact (4-8-3), 2-1, in front of 10,376 fans Wednesday night at The Home Depot Center. The Rojiblancos were lifted to victory behind goals from Alejandro Moreno and Juan Pablo Angel. Montreal midfielder Felipe Martins scored the Impact’s lone goal.
- The Rojiblancos took the one goal advantage off a Cesar Romero corner kick in the 14th minute. Forward Juan Agudelo tapped the pass from inside the short area, which bounced off the leg of Moreno and passed the Impact’s goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. Both Agudelo and Romero were credited with their first assists on the season and the goal was Moreno’s second.
- Montreal found the equalizing goal just before the half in the 42nd minute when Impact forward Davy Arnaud moved the ball up the right sideline and centered the ball to the cutting Felipe Martins.
- Red and White Head Coach Robin Fraser struck gold in the 77th and 78th minute when he sent Angel and midfielder Jorge Villafaña on to the pitch as subs. Villafaña worked the ball deep into the left corner and centered the ball for the awaiting Angel, who headed the delivery into the back of the net for his third goal on the season and the eventual game-winner.
- The match marked the first ever meeting between Chivas USA and Montreal, as the team from north of the border is in its first season as an expansion team in the MLS.
- The Goats have a short week and get right back to action on the pitch as they travel to the Lone Star State to face FC Dallas, Saturday, June 23rd, 6:00 pm (PT) at FC Dallas Stadium. The match will broadcast on television, live on Galavision in Spanish. For more information about the game please visit cdchivasusa.com. Follow us on Twitter@cdchivasusa and Facebook.com/chivasusa
CHIVAS USA HEAD COACH – ROBIN FRASER:
Thoughts on the game: “I thought we had a decent start. We were able to create a couple of chances early on and certainly looked like we were capable of creating a few more. We came out in the second half and I was very happy with the result of the group, certainly there were moments in the game where it became difficult and we had to do a bit of emergency defending, but I was very pleased with the way we were able to finish the game. I thought we finished the game stronger than we have several times this year.”
On the impact of the substitutes: “You really can’t say enough about the three subs who came in. Jorge and Juan [Pablo Ángel] combined for the goal and then Pete had some very intelligent minutes down the stretch. So overall it’s a performance that we feel certainly good about. We always feel like things could be better but certainly it was a performance and a result that we are happy with.”
On the last 20 minutes of game: “We saw tons of intelligent work and good decisions with the ball, things that you have to do. We talked about execution on Saturday night and I thought that’s how we executed in the last ten minutes of the game or so, it was definitely a step forward for us. Our decisions on the ball were good, our work was not to be questioned and I was very proud and happy with the way we finished the half.”
On the upcoming game at Dallas: “For us it doesn’t matter who the next opponent is, we have to continue to improve. There were some things tonight that certainly we thought we could get better and sharper at. Regardless of who we play, there’s going to be that challenge. Dallas in particular is a very talented team. They’ve certainly not gotten the results that they’re capable of. The weather is another factor there, it will be warm and hot. It will be our third game in a week, but that’s how this league is. Dallas, for me, is a good team. They have a lot of good players and for us, it’s another real exercise in concentration and being able to tighten up on a few things.”
