Union Wraps Up Preseason With Win Over Montreal Impact

Report From PhiladelphiaUnion.com

Philadelphia Union defeated the Montreal Impact, 4-1 on penalties after the two sides played to a 1-1 draw in regular time Saturday afternoon in the final match of the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports.

With Austin Berry making his first start in the central defense since being acquired via trade with Chicago Fire on Monday, Team Manager John Hackworth fielded a first-choice lineup that could look similar to that of next week’s match on Satuday, March 8, the first MLS Regular Season game against Portland Timbers at Providence Park (10:30 p.m. ET).

The Union opened the scoring in the 29^th minute on a goal from striker Jack McInerney. Maurice Edu slid a ball through the Montreal defense on the ground to put McInerney in on goal. The forward gathered possession while maintaining his speed towards the net before firing a left footed shot into the far post, past Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins.

Philadelphia came out unchanged in the second half and held the lead until 10 minutes left in regular time, when Marco Di Vaio leveled the score for Montreal. The striker broke through behind the Philadelphia defense and calmly tapped in a shot that banked off the far post and in. Neither side could find a winner in the remaining minutes.

After the final whistle blew for regular time, the Union won on penalties as Leo Fernandes, Aaron Wheeler, Brian Carroll and Vincent Nogueira all struck while Zac MacMath denied two the first two shots from Montreal. MacMath set the tone early with a diving save to his right on Di Vaio and followed up with a second consecutive save, this time to his left on a shot from Patrice Bernier.

The Union now carry momentum from the preseason into the club’s opening match of the 2014 season against the Portland Timbers, who finished first in the Western Conference during the regular season last year. The match kicks off at 10:30 p.m. ET on Comcast SportsNet.

BOX SCORE

Philadelphia Union 1, Montreal Impact 1 (Union win, 4-1 on penalties)

Saturday, March1; 3:00 p.m. ET

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Orlando, Fla.

SCORING SUMMARY

PHI: McInerney 29’ (Edu)

MTL: Di Vaio 80’

PENALTIES

Union 4-1 Montreal

PHI: Fernandes (1-0)

MTL: Di Vaio, saved by MacMath (1-0)

PHI: Wheeler (2-0)

MTL: Bernier, saved by MacMath (2-0)

PHI: Carroll (3-0)

MTL: Bernadello (3-1)

PHI: Nogueira (4-1)

UNION STARTING 11

Zac MacMath, Fabinho, Amobi Okugo, Austin Berry (Aaron Wheeler 80’), Ray Gaddis, Brian Carroll, Maurice Edu, Vincent Nogueira, Cristian Maidana (Zach Pfeffer 85’), Jack McInerney (Danny Cruz 72’), Sebastien Le Toux (Leo Fernandes 72’) 

IMPACT STARTING 11

Troy Perkins; Hassoun Camara (Calum Mallace 46’), Wandrille Lefèvre, Matteo Ferrari, Eric Miller (Heath Pearce 76’); M-Hernan Bernardello, Collen Warner, Felipe (Patrice Bernier 79’), Justin Mapp, Sanna Nyassi (Andrés Romero 76’); Andrew Wenger (Marco Di Vaio 64’).