Impact 2, Rochester 0: Message delivered.

Photo by PEPE

And that message is: don’t count us out. Again.

After a 5-0 thrashing of Baltimore last week, the Gulls had to show the league that we were serious. Facing our arch rivals and league-leading Rochester Rhinos would be the perfect test. Especially since we hadn’t beaten them yet this season.

It didn’t take very long. 18 seconds in, Ali Gerba scored his fourth goal in two games, which prompted a smoke bomb and streamer reaction from the Ultras. He would later add his second of the night (fifth in two games), which, along with driving crazy the sellout crowd, prompted the Ultras to light a flare.

But what to say of the rest of the team? Well, they played as a cohesive unit, thus continuing the trend that has been set for the last 4 games or so. Playing with a 4-4-2 formation with the midfield in a line, the team were able to hold back many of Rochester’s attacks and able to counter offensively. Gerba and Sebrango make for a good tandem up front. The former’s skill seems to flatter well with the latter’s experience. Same goes for Testo and Ribeiro in the midfield, they tend to play off each other well, and along with Donatelli and Di Lorenzo on the flanks, form what could arguably be the best midfield in the league (and are finally playing like it also). Billy and Braz as left and right backs, respectively, and Pizzolitto and Aaboubou in central D played well, even if Aaboubou was sloppy at times. Matt Jordan played a very strong match. Let’s say he saved us a goal or two tonight. His rousing of the crowd before the final whistle prompted a warm reaction by the fans, who gave him and his team the reaction they deserved. The man was visibly pumped by the meaningful win, which screamed: Bring it on!

Rochester didn’t play a horrible match, either, they too, were decently organized as a whole. Still, we took on the league’s best, and came out on top.

Category: Montreal Impact Team News