Sanna’s Impact loses 2-1 to New England Revolution in reserve game

The Montreal Impact of Sanna Nyassi lost to the New England Revolution by a 2-1 score, Tuesday morning, in Reserve League action, at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.

The Revolution caught the Impact off guard in the game’s opening seconds when forward Alec Purdie slid one past goalkeeper Greg Sutton, beating him to his right. Then in the 10th minute, the Impact tied it up when midfielder Collen Warner played a ball back from the goal line to midfielder Felipe waiting near the penalty spot.

With one touch, Felipe set up his right foot and beat goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth in the bottom right corner. The second half began in much the same way as the first, with a breakdown that led to a breakaway for Jeremiah White, who put one past Sutton as he charged out of the goal to challenge him in the 51st minute.

“It was good to get a run in,” said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. “We need to continue to figure out how to take performances and turn them into results. There were some good things there, but we are not happy with the result. These reserve games are meaningful so regardless of who is on the field, both teams come to play.”

“We don’t want to be taking too long off in between games, and get 90 minutes in a real game situation,” said Impact captain Davy Arnaud. “It’s good for our fitness level. We want to be tough defensively and get back to not conceding goals to prepare for the game on June 16 at home and to win games at our field.”

The Impact nearly got one back in the 60th minute when forward Andrew Wenger ran down a loose ball inside the box and played a ball cross crease to midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic, who one-timed a blast that was stopped by the keeper. In the 69th minute, defender Nelson Rivas left the pitch due to a left knee injury and was replaced by forward Sanna Nyassi.