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Montreal Impact friendly matches


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Here is an article directly from the PISA CALCIO SPA WEBSITE

http://www.pisacalcio.it/news/dettaglio.html?iId=2934

Pisa made very little changes from their last league game saturday vs Sassuolo. The article also mentions that multiple subs were used in the second half. All in all, I think this is a very positive result, considering that the Impact haven't faced any real competition thus far.

Here is the Pisa lineup that faced Montreal:

Pisa: Alfonso; Birindelli, Bonucci, Viviani, Zavagno; Radovanovic, Genevier, Braiati; Alvarez, Antenucci, Greco. All. Giampiero Ventura

and here is the lineup that faced Sassuolo

PISA: 1.Morello, 15.Birindelli, 32.Viviani, 5.Bonucci, 16.Zavagno, 2.Genevier (Vice-Capitano), 20.Braiati (Capitano) (34'st 8.Buzzegoli), 21.Radovanovic, 9.Alvarez, 30.Gasparetto (41'st 7.Job), 23.Greco (15'st 84.Antenucci). A disp: 12.Sarti, 13.Degano, 22.Musca, 77.Piccinni.

Just thaught that I would provide some proof, before the Haters start whining about how Montreal only gets results because they face 2nd tier lineups.[:P]

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quote:Originally posted by masster

Is that former Juventus player Alessandro Birindelli? He spent a lot of years in Serie A.

Yes it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisa_Calcio

Impressive result even if it is a friendly. Today we beat a third division club 2-0 so these results even though in friendlies do show a lot of improvement in the level of play of the team. Last year we mostly tied a lot of 3rd and 4th division clubs on our tour.

IMPACT 2 AC PISTOIESE 0 (FINAL SCORE)

PRESS RELEASE: February 5, 2009

PISTOIA, Italy - The Montreal Impact registered a first win in Italy, Thursday, with a 1-0 shutout against Italian third division club Pistoiese (Serie C1), at Stadio Comunale Marcello Melani, in Pistoia.

Midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo opened the score in the 24th minute of play. On a free kick in midfield, just outside the 18-yard box, Di Lorenzo took a hard low shot that beat goalkeeper Bindi to his left.

Montreal doubled the lead in the 79th minute when Cameroun forward Leo Bessong Libiih, posted on the right flank, accepted a pass from David Testo and then beat the Italian goalkeeper with a right-foot shot in the upper right corner.

“We were more comfortable than yesterday with our system of play,” said Impact head coach John Limniatis. “Our opponent wasn’t as strong as Pisa but it was a good team. We want to play physical and intense games and that is what we got today. It’s good because we were able to create chances and score goals, while still doing great defensively.”

“This team was also very organized and that’s what we should expect against Santos Laguna,” said Impact team captain Mauro Biello. “In the second half, we moved the ball better and things started to open up. The win gives us more confidence but we are here to prepare ourselves. It’s not about results, it’s about us getting better.”

The Impact almost scored in the 63rd minute when it consecutively shot twice on the post. Forward Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, who is trying out with the team, hit the left post first, then Bessong Libiih took the rebound and hit the right post.

Leo Bessong Libiih and French forward Laurent Merlin, both trying out with the Montreal team, played their first exhibition game, both coming in the game in the 50th minute of play.

Goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic played the entire 90 minutes and registered the shutout. The Impact, which has still not conceded a single goal to the opponent since the start of training camp, has now a 4-0-1 record in five preseason matches.

Note that defender Stefano Pesoli is back in Montreal and will undergo knee surgery, while defender Alex Surprenant joined his teammates in Florence after training in Florida with the U-20 Canadian national team.

The Impact will play its third preseason game in Italy, Saturday, against VF Colligiana (Serie C2), at 3 pm (9 am, Eastern Time).

IMPACT LINEUP

GK-Srdjan Djekanovic, D-Stephen deRoux, D-Adam Braz (Nevio Pizzolitto, 64th), D-Cédric Joqueviel, D-Mike Vitulano, M-Rocco Placentino (Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, 60th), M-Tony Donatelli, M-Leonardo Di Lorenzo (David Testo, 45th), M-Félix Brillant (Mauro Biello, 45th), F-Joey Gjertsen (Laurent Merlin, 50th), F-Roberto Brown (Leo Bessong Libiih, 50th)

PISTOIESE STARTING LINEUP

1-Bindi, 2-Bartolucci, 3-Ghinassi, 4-Di Berardino, 5-Lanzillotta, 6-Fautario, 7-Bellazzini, 8-Guerri, 9-Dal Rio, 10-Femiano, 11-Artistico

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IMPACT 1 VF COLLIGIANA 1

PRESS RELEASE: February 7, 2009

The Montreal Impact and VF Colligiana (Serie 2) tied 1-1, in Montreal's third exhibition game in Italy. Forward Joey Gjertsen scored at the 29th minute. The italian squad scored in the second half. More details to come...

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IMPACT 1 VF COLLIGIANA 1

PRESS RELEASE: February 7, 2009

The Montreal Impact and VF Colligiana (Serie 2) tied 1-1, in Montreal's third exhibition game in Italy. Forward Joey Gjertsen scored at the 29th minute. The italian squad scored in the second half. More details to come...

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Guest Jeffery S.
quote:Originally posted by Grizzly

Yes it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisa_Calcio

Impressive result even if it is a friendly. Today we beat a third division club 2-0 so these results even though in friendlies do show a lot of improvement in the level of play of the team. Last year we mostly tied a lot of 3rd and 4th division clubs on our tour.

IMPACT 2 AC PISTOIESE 0 (FINAL SCORE)

PRESS RELEASE: February 5, 2009

PISTOIA, Italy - The Montreal Impact registered a first win in Italy, Thursday, with a 1-0 shutout against Italian third division club Pistoiese (Serie C1), at Stadio Comunale Marcello Melani, in Pistoia.

Midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo opened the score in the 24th minute of play. On a free kick in midfield, just outside the 18-yard box, Di Lorenzo took a hard low shot that beat goalkeeper Bindi to his left.

Montreal doubled the lead in the 79th minute when Cameroun forward Leo Bessong Libiih, posted on the right flank, accepted a pass from David Testo and then beat the Italian goalkeeper with a right-foot shot in the upper right corner.

“We were more comfortable than yesterday with our system of play,” said Impact head coach John Limniatis. “Our opponent wasn’t as strong as Pisa but it was a good team. We want to play physical and intense games and that is what we got today. It’s good because we were able to create chances and score goals, while still doing great defensively.”

“This team was also very organized and that’s what we should expect against Santos Laguna,” said Impact team captain Mauro Biello. “In the second half, we moved the ball better and things started to open up. The win gives us more confidence but we are here to prepare ourselves. It’s not about results, it’s about us getting better.”

The Impact almost scored in the 63rd minute when it consecutively shot twice on the post. Forward Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, who is trying out with the team, hit the left post first, then Bessong Libiih took the rebound and hit the right post.

Leo Bessong Libiih and French forward Laurent Merlin, both trying out with the Montreal team, played their first exhibition game, both coming in the game in the 50th minute of play.

Goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic played the entire 90 minutes and registered the shutout. The Impact, which has still not conceded a single goal to the opponent since the start of training camp, has now a 4-0-1 record in five preseason matches.

Note that defender Stefano Pesoli is back in Montreal and will undergo knee surgery, while defender Alex Surprenant joined his teammates in Florence after training in Florida with the U-20 Canadian national team.

The Impact will play its third preseason game in Italy, Saturday, against VF Colligiana (Serie C2), at 3 pm (9 am, Eastern Time).

IMPACT LINEUP

GK-Srdjan Djekanovic, D-Stephen deRoux, D-Adam Braz (Nevio Pizzolitto, 64th), D-Cédric Joqueviel, D-Mike Vitulano, M-Rocco Placentino (Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, 60th), M-Tony Donatelli, M-Leonardo Di Lorenzo (David Testo, 45th), M-Félix Brillant (Mauro Biello, 45th), F-Joey Gjertsen (Laurent Merlin, 50th), F-Roberto Brown (Leo Bessong Libiih, 50th)

PISTOIESE STARTING LINEUP

1-Bindi, 2-Bartolucci, 3-Ghinassi, 4-Di Berardino, 5-Lanzillotta, 6-Fautario, 7-Bellazzini, 8-Guerri, 9-Dal Rio, 10-Femiano, 11-Artistico

Just two days ago I ordered Penne Pistoiese in an Italian restaurant in France. For the life of me I can't remember what it had in it, but it was good.

That pic of the tower behind the stadium in Pisa is classic, I never realized the stadium was so close when I visited years ago.

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http://montrealimpact.com/News/News.aspx?language=EN&ArticleID=1060&Focus=0

COLLE DI VAL D’ELSA, Italy – The Montreal Impact and Italian fourth division club VF Colligiana (Serie C2) tied 1-1, Saturday, at Stadio Gino Manni, in Colle di Val d’Elsa. The Impact remains unbeaten in three exhibition games on Italian soil. Forward Joey Gjertsen opened the score for the Impact in the first half, in the 29th minute. On the sequence, Mauro Biello made a deep pass on the right flank to Eduardo Sebrango, who centered the ball on the ground for Gjertsen, at the entrance of the 18-yard box. He then dribbled the defender, before beating goalkeeper Lapo Giusti with a high shot.

Andrea Corsi tied the score in the 62nd minute, while left alone on the right flank, giving no chance to Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan. It was the first goal conceded by Montreal in six preseason games since the beginning of training camp.

“We played with inconsistency today with very good and bad moments,” said Impact head coach John Limniatis. “We did good things in the first half but the second half was tougher. A few technical and defensive errors during 15 minutes gave them the opportunity to score the tying goal.”

Jordan, who played the entire game, made a few key saves in the second half. In the 59th minute, he stopped a point blank shot from Fabio Casini, diving to his left. Then in the 80th minute, Jordan dove to his right to block a low 15-yard shot from Mattia Donati.

All players on the starting lineup were substituted, except for Jordan and central defenders Nevio Pizzolitto and Cédric Joqueviel.

“Overall, it was a good game and we got good opponents, especially in the second half,” noted Joqueviel. “We ran more in the second half because they put on the field 11 fresh players. It’s positive because we continue correcting minor imperfections in our game to be ready for the February 25 matchup.”

The Impact will play its fourth of five exhibition games in Italy, Tuesday, against USD Fiesole Caldine (Division Eccellenza), at 3 pm (9 am, Eastern Time).

IMPACT LINEUP

GK-Matt Jordan, D-Alex Surprenant (Stephen deRoux, 45th), D-Cédric Joqueviel, D-Nevio Pizzolitto, D-Adam Braz (Mike Vitulano, 68th), M-Rocco Placentino (Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, 66th), M-Sandro Grande (Tony Donatelli, 63rd), M-David Testo (Leonardo Di Lorenzo, 60th), M-Mauro Biello (Félix Brillant, 45th), A-Joey Gjertsen (Laurent Merlin, 45th), A-Eduardo Sebrango (Léo Bessong Libiih, 63rd)

VF COLLIGIANA LINEUP

1st half:

Lapo Giusti, Lorenzo Laverone, Ruggero Radice, Mattia Donati, Luca Bonini, Andrea Pobega, Daniele Chiocchetti, Patrizio Billio, Pietro Tranchitella, Davide Collini, Gianluca Savoldi

2nd half:

Carlo Camilli, Adriano Russo, Nicola Ficano, Domenico Marino, Antonio D’Ambrosio, Rodrigo De Lazzeri, Fabio Casini, Andrea Corsi, Massimiliano Bongiorni, Davide Carfora, Alessandro Osso

-30-

Source: Patrick Vallée

Info: 514-653-0539 (in Italy)

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quote:Originally posted by Tuscan

While their tour is done in Italy, do the Impact have any other scheduled friendlies before the 25th? I hope they will keep themselves in competitive matches until a few days beforehand.

There's no word as of now.

I'd be surprised if they didn't book another couple of friendlies against regional opponents like the Attak or UDM just to stay active. Maybe that Houston rumour will play out?

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quote:Originally posted by Keano

There's no word as of now.

I'd be surprised if they didn't book another couple of friendlies against regional opponents like the Attak or UDM just to stay active. Maybe that Houston rumour will play out?

They already have a 60 minute friendly scheduled against Houston but its on Feb. 28th...

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Guest Jeffery S.

It would make sense for Impact to play at the Big O prior to their Santos-L match, to get used to the pitch, size, vision, everything. so that is it a real advantage for them to be playing at home, over and above fan support.

A friendly with TFC or any MLS club, or even one of the Scandinavian sides in pre-season, would be a good idea, though probably closed door as I don't think Impact could weather another ticket sales campaign (however much fun it would be to have another thread on Big O ticket sales).

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quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S.

It would make sense for Impact to play at the Big O prior to their Santos-L match, to get used to the pitch, size, vision, everything. so that is it a real advantage for them to be playing at home, over and above fan support.

I believe they start practicing there next week.

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