Lappalainen scores brace in first start with Impact

MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact found back its winning ways in MLS by defeating the Eastern Conference leaders, the Philadelphia Union, 4-0, Saturday night at Stade Saputo. Lassi Lappalainen and Orji Okwonkwo both recorded braces, with the Finnish international opening his Impact account only four minutes into the game.

“Our game plan was respected by everyone tonight,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “Everyone worked for the team. Our mindset was back tonight. The guys need to understand that when we have the right mindset and we follow instructions, we can be a very dangerous team.”

An immediate impact

Montreal got on the board early, in the fourth minute, thanks to its newest recruit, Lassi Lappalainen. After Zachary Brault-Guillard managed to cut in towards the middle from the right flank, he found Lappalainen, who running in from the left, behind the defense. The young Finn dribbled past goalkeeper Andrew Blake with his first touch, before finding the back of the net with his second. This was Lappalainen’s first MLS goal in his first start with his new club.

Montreal continued pressing and a few minutes later, Lappalainen was able to find Daniel Lovitz on the left flank. The American defender pierced into the box and tried a low cross, but Blake was able to get a hand on it and keep it out.

In the 27th minute, Brault-Guillard again found space on the right, cutting into the box and passing to Maxi Urruti, but the Argentine couldn’t get a proper shot away.

Philadelphia picked up the pressure midway through the first 45, getting a few opportunities of their own. Evan Bush was forced into action first off a corner, stopping a header from in close from Alejandro Bedoya, before making a save on striker Kacper Przybylko from close range a few minutes later.

The home side doubled its lead in the 36th minute, in a move that started with Lappalainen on the left side. The Finn passed to Urruti in the middle, who immediately looked towards Piatti to his right. The Designated Player was able to find Orji Okwonkwo with some space in front of the box, the Nigerian beating Blake with a well-placed shot that touched the inside of the post.

“It was a great game,” said midfielder Lassi Lappalainen. “Seeing the crowd standing and applauding when I was substituted was great. I was a bit surprised to get the start, but I’ve been training well and I was fit for a game. My teammates helped a lot too and the pass I received on the first goal was right at my feet.”

More Lappalainen in the second

Lappalainen wasted no time making his presence felt in the second half, scoring his second of the game in the 46th minute to put the Impact up 3-0. The Finland international gained possession near midfield, running all the way down the left side and into the box, before slotting it past Blake on the far side.

Designated Player Nacho Piatti was subbed off in the 62nd minute after making his first MLS start since May 24. The Argentine finished the night with an assist, his 35th all-time with the Impact.

Montreal was able to put the game away in the 66th minute with another goal, this time on the counter. After a Philadelphia corner was cleared up to Urruti, the Argentine immediately sent the ball upfield with his back to goal to Okwonkwo. The Nigerian gained possession near midfield, outrunning his defender all the way to the opposite box, before slotting it past Blake into the bottom corner.

Goalkeeper Evan Bush finished the night with three saves, earning his 40th clean sheet in MLS. The American netminder also reached the 15,000-minute plateau with the Impact in MLS in the ninth minute.

“We had lost four straight games in the league and we were sick of losing, and sick of the excuses,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “We wanted to come in and show that wasn’t us and that we were better than that. We showed tonight that when we’re motivated and energized, we can beat anybody in this league.”

Upcoming games

The Impact will head to the Rockies on Saturday, August 3, at 9pm EST, to face the Colorado Rockies at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690). Montreal will then return home for the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal on Wednesday, August 7, at 7:30pm against Cavarly FC (TICKETS – 98.5, TSN 690).

LINE-UPS

MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Zachary Brault-Guillard, Zakaria Diallo, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz; M-Orji Okwonkwo (Clément Bayiha 69’), Saphir Taïder, Shamit Shome, Lassi Lappalainen (Mathieu Choinière 82') ; F-Ignacio Piatti (Rudy Camacho 62’), Maximiliano Urruti

Subs not used – Clément Diop, Ken Krolicki, Micheal Azira, Anthony Jackson-Hamel

PHI – GK-Andre Blake; D-Auston Trusty, Jack Elliott, Matt Real (Andrew Wooten 56’), Raymon Gaddis; M-Alejandro Bedoya, Brenden Aaronson (Ilsinho 49’), Haris Medunjanin, Marco Fabián, Fabrice-Jean Picault (Anthony Fontana 74’), F-Kacper Przybylko

Subs not used – Joe Bendik, Aurélien Colin, Robert James Allen, Warren Creavalle

GOALS

MTL – Lappalainen (Brault-Guillard) 4’

MTL – Okwonkwo (Piatti) 36’

MTL – Lappalainen 46’

MTL – Okwonkwo (Urruti) 66’

CAUTIONS

MTL – Diallo 9’

MTL – Urruti 42’