Montreal open their MLS campaign agianst the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday, but will be without the former Chelsea striker, who said the problem had flared up as a result of playing on artificial surfaces.
Advertisement
The Whitecaps found themselves two goals down at half-time before eventually losing 3-2 to their Canadian rivals at BC Place in what was a frustrating performance according to Robinson.
The turf-adverse Drogba was hardly missed as Ignacio Piatti, a 31-year-old Argentine midfielder, toyed with Caps defenders, scoring twice and setting up another goal by Dominic Odura when normally reliable Caps’ goalkeeper David Ousted made a huge gaffe. Ever since I got here my focus has been on the team.
They gave up only 36 goals last season, which put them in a tie with Seattle Sounders FC for the least amount of goals against in the Western Conference.
Perhaps the most worrying aspect for the Whitecaps, however, was the poor play of their usually stellar defense, who were ripped apart at times by Impact captain Ignacio Piatti at times during the match. When you score two goals at home, but give three bad goals away, you don’t win games. Whitecaps center back Waston stayed stride-for-stride with Oduro, and as both approached the ‘Caps 18-yard box, Ousted ran off his line to clear the ball out of danger. Oduro cheekily lobbed the ball over center back Tim Parker and started a two-on-one fast break.
For more information about the Impact, their 2016 season schedule and ticket sales, go to the team’s website. I would love to train in Montreal, for me it’s better if I don’t have to move from here and train on a grass pitch (that) would be ideal.
“Fraser did okay in the game… but Piatti is arguably their best player”, said Caps’ head coach Carl Robinson.
“They were a good team previous year”. They know the way I play, that’s normal. But if we hadn’t won our last game, we would have probably been sixth or seventh’.
Also returning is goalkeeper Evan Bush, whose heroics in the CONCACAF Champions’ League a year ago will be remembered by Impact fans.
Waston scored off a corner kick in the final seconds of second half stoppage times to get Vancouver within a goal but any chance of a miracle comeback died with the final whistle shortly after.
“It does make it a little bit more important but we’ll go there, we’ll brush ourselves down and we’ll go there full of confidence because we played some good stuff in certain times today”.
Advertisement
Whitecaps’ Man of the Match- Harvey (for once the in game crowd got it right).
