MATT KREMKAU - EMPIRE OF SOCCER

by ANTHONY J. MERCED

Montreal played physically against the New York Red Bull’s – and that is an understatement. Still, it is the Red Bulls who leave Canada a victim of their own physicality.

Jesse Marsch spoke about Omer Damari’s late game red card after the match and felt that it “maybe a little harsh.”

Omer Damari, who came on late in the game as a substitute for Alex Muyl found himself being sent off due to a studs-up tackle on Callum Mallace of the Impact. The red card sees to it that Damari will not be available for the return leg against Montreal at Red Bull Arena.

“I thought they should have called a foul before on Kljestan,” said Marsch, speaking about a play just before the incident. “From my angle, I thought it was an aggressive tackle but I didn’t think it was studs. I thought it was the top of the foot.”

The play all game long was aggressive by both sides with the referee allowing for some rather physical displays in both halfs. Despite what we’ve heard from Marsch in the past, it appears that the Red Bull gaffer was expecting such play.

“We spoke to the referee about it beforehand,” said Marsch. “Playoff games are never easy to ref and they’re always about who wants it more. I expected Montreal to try to be hard, especially on our talented attacking players and they were.”