Midfielder Callum Mallace scored in the 58th minute as the visiting Montreal Impact topped D.C. United 2-0 in MLS Reserve League action on Tuesday afternoon. The triumph – secured through Eddie Sebrango’s 84th minute strike – gives Montreal’s reserves 22 points from ten matches, good enough for first place in the reserve league.
D.C. United nearly opened the scoring ten minutes into an evenly matched first half, when Maicon Santos shed his marker on a corner kick. The Brazilian striker met Lewis Neal’s service with a powerful header, but the ball sailed just over Montreal’s goal. Four minutes later, the Impact responded with some set piece danger of their own as Josh Gardner’s long distance blast drew a spectacular tip-save from D.C. goalkeeper Joe Willis.
In the 23rd minute, D.C. trialist Yann Ekra created the opening stanza’s best chance. The Harrisburg City player ripped a volley past Impact goalie Evan Bush, but the shot rang off the crossbar before Bush eventually corralled the loose ball.
The second half belonged to Montreal, as the visitors took an aggressive approach to the final 45 minutes. They were rewarded just less than a quarter-hour in, when Mallace latched onto a Gardner long ball before chipping the onrushing Willis.
D.C. came close to finding an equalizer in the 79th minute. Indonesian guest player Andik Vermansyah broke down the Montreal defense, drawing a foul along the visitors’ endline. Neal offered up a perfect service on the ensuing free kick, and academy defender Lars Eckenrode was unlucky to see his header bounce over the goal.
Montreal clinched their victory six minutes from time, as Sebrango followed up a pair of near misses with a well-taken finish on D.C.’s back post.
Scoring Summary
MTL – Calum Mallace (Josh Gardner) 58
MTL – Eddie Sebrango 84
Misconduct Summary
DC – Mike Chabala (caution) 42
Lineups
D.C. United: Joe Willis; Robbie Russell (Andik Vermansyah* 45), Ethan White, Lars Eckenrode, Mike Chabala; Lewis Neal, Mechack Jerome, Raphael Augusto, Yann Ekra; Long Tan, Maicon Santos (Dennis Chin* 28).
Montreal: Evan Bush; Zarek Valentin, Dennis Iapichino (Maxim Tissot 64), Karl Ouimette, Amine Meftouh; Calum Mallace, Wandrille Lefevre, Josh Gardner, Evan James (Eddie Sebrango 71); Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Zakaria Messoudi 76), Andrew Wegner.
Academy player
**Guest player
