Montreal Impact: Lack of discipline continues to prove costly

The Montreal Impact have made a poor start to their 2018 campaign, and much of that has been due to the teams lack of discipline.

The Montreal Impact have been one of the more underwhelming MLS clubs in recent memory. The team undoubtedly has talent. Ignacio Piatti is one of the best players in the league, while Mancosu has grabbed a number of goals during his time in MLS.

The offseason was promising as well, as the club signed exciting players like Canadian youngster Raheem Edwards, Uruguayan international Alejandro Silva, and DP signing Saphir Taider.

However, the team has yet to kick on this season, and sit outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. The main reason for this has been the teams lack of discipline, which has cost them a number of points already this year.

There were hints of this ill-disciple at the very beginning of the campaign. In the second game of the season against conference rivals Columbus, Montreal gave away an early penalty, which gave the Crew an early two goal lead.

The Montreal Impact fought back, and managed to tie the game five minutes from time after a superb volley from Raheem Edwards. However, Edwards would go from hero to zero before full time, as he clumsily took down Columbus attacker Luis Argudo in the penalty area. Zardes slotted the penalty home, and handed Montreal a second loss in as many games to start the year.

The Montreal Impact did well in their next two games, beating Toronto at home before winning away in Seattle by staying in the good books of the referee. However, the clean run did not last long.

The following weekend against New England saw Montreal down to ten men after only 15 minutes, after designated player signing Saphir Taider was given a straight red for a horror tackle that could’ve seriously injured his opponent. The game was decided at that moment, as the Revolution went on to win 4-0.

The straight red also meant that Taider was suspended for three games, and Montreal missed him dearly against the Red Bulls. New York had control of the midfield throughout, and ran out winners with a 3-1 scoreline.

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Against LAFC, this all came to a head as the Montreal Impact utterly imploded. They got off to a wonderful start, taking a two goal lead in the first sixteen minutes. Soon after the second goal, the Impact gave away a free kick in a dangerous area, which former defender Ciman blasted into the far corner to halve the deficit.

Then, at the half hour mark, Montreal found themselves down to ten men, as defender Victor Cabrera took down Marco Urena in the box, giving away a penalty and getting sent off in the process. It seemed like the Impact dodged a bullet, as Evan Bush saved the penalty, and Piatti scored soon after to restore the two goal lead before halftime.

However, Montreal couldn’t withstand the potent LA attack down a man for long, and LAFC were able to tie the game up before the 60th minute. The collapse was culminated seven minutes from time, as Montreal gave away another penalty, which Vela converted to give the away side the three points.

If Montreal want any chance of grabbing a result in their next game, an away trip to Atlanta, they must make sure they stay disciplined. Atlanta has punished teams who go down a man in the past, and an early red for the Impact could see them lose by an embarrassing score line. The five stripes are full of skilled dribblers, like Barco and Almiron, and Montreal cannot afford to lunge into challenges.

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The Impact have the talent, but need to become more disciplined if they want any chance of picking up points in a tough Eastern conference. If this trend continues, however, it will just be another year without playoff soccer in Montreal.

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