Revolution topples Impact in regular season finale

Montreal, QC, Canada (4E Sports) – The New England Revolution finally nailed a win in 14 road matches in a contest Montreal Impact was dominating.

A. J. Soares headed in the winner in the 89th minute for a 1-0 Revs win and left 19,988 fans stunned at Saputo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The ninth-place Revolution (9-17-8) ended a 13-game winless run in road matches since a March 31 victory in Los Angeles. This is their first win on Canadian soil, having gone 0-5-3 in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

The Impact (12-16-6) finished seventh in the Eastern Conference and out of the playoffs.

“We ended up with 42 points, which is a fair amount for an expansion team, but we know we had a chance to have more,” said midfielder Davy Arnaud. “In games like this we’ve let some points slip along the way when we’ve had good performances.

“But overall I think we can be proud of the work we’ve done.”

Montreal wanted a win to secure a top spot among the three Canadian MLS clubs and be seeded first for next year’s Amway Canadian Championship.

Montreal enjoyed 67 percent of possession in the first half and did well finding space on the flanks. They led in shots on goal but couldn’t finish.

New England remained dangerous on the counter. Though they didn’t really threaten Perkins’ net, they did enough to worry the Montreal defense – especially on the left side after Jesse Marsch made an attacking switch in the 71st minute.

Matteo Ferrari made way for Justin Mapp, who was handed a great chance to break the deadlock three minutes later, but he skied his right-footed attempt.

Montreal came very close to finishing in the 86th as Davy Arnaud’s attempt was cleared off the line, but they were punished two minutes later when Tierney’s corner kick found the head of Soares.

“That summed up our season in one play,” said Montreal midfielder Patrice Bernier. “A goal late in the game off a set piece.

“It’s a bit sad because it’s a game where if we had more killer instinct we win 3-0. But because we gave out so much energy, you go at full speed and maybe lose that calmness to just put it in.”

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