Montreal Impact's Matteo Ferrari, top, collides with Philadelphia Union's Andrew Wenger during second half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Saturday, April 26, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
April 26, 2014 - 3:04 PM
MONTREAL - Felipe Martins scored in the first half and the Montreal Impact held on for a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union for its first MLS victory of the season on Saturday.
It was the Impact's (1-4-3) first win since a 2-1 triumph over Philadelphia on Oct. 19 last season.
The Union (1-3-5) is winless in its last seven games.
Felipe got his second goal of the campaign in the 15th minute when Patrice Bernier stole the ball from Sheanon Williams and took a long shot that Zac MacMath blocked, only to fee the Brazilian bang in the rebound.
It was Montreal's first home game on the grass field at Saputo Stadium — after playing three times indoors at Olympic Stadium — but the stands were only half full in chilly, wet weather even though the team announced Friday that 18,000 tickets were sold.
It was the first meeting between the teams since the Impact sent Andrew Wenger to the Union for Jack McInerney in a swap of strikers three weeks ago.
Wenger was dangerous all afternoon, taking three shots in the first half alone.
He missed the net by a long margin in the 22nd minute, but five minutes later forced Troy Perkins to make a sharp hand save on a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
McInerney had a glittering chance in the 54th, but MacMath dove to get a hand on the shot.
The Impact are 4-1-2 against Philadelphia in two-plus seasons in MLS, including 4-0-0 in Montreal.
Fullback Hassoun Camara was shown the yellow card for clotheslining Fabinho in the 37th minute. It was his fifth caution of the season and he will be suspended for Montreal's game next Saturday at home against Kansas City.
The Union play next week at Seattle.
Notes: Fullbacks Camara and Jeb Brovsky were back in the starting 11 for Montreal as Eric Miller and Maxim Tissot took a seat. Calum Mallace, who started last week, was back on the bench as McInerney started. . . Conor Casey and Crisitian Maidana were on the bench for Philadelphia while Fabinho started.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014