Sounders 1 - 4 CF Montreal
Final
  for this game

Montreal crushes Seattle in Saputo Stadium opener

Jun 17, 2012 - 1:43 AM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - The Montreal Impact celebrated the opening of their new stadium in style on Saturday, earning a 4-1 victory over Seattle Sounders FC in Saputo Stadium's Major League Soccer debut.

The Impact made the switch from the Olympic Stadium to their new home, and if Saturday's result was any indication, Saputo Stadium may prove to be one of the toughest venues in the league for visitors to get a result.

Montreal took the lead by halftime with Felipe Martins' opening strike, but the home side killed the game off shortly after the restart as Justin Mapp doubled the lead.

Jhon Kennedy Hurtado was sent off in the 56th minute for the Sounders, and the Impact capitalized through Andrew Wenger's goal two minutes later.

Seattle pulled one back through Eddie Johnson, but it was all for naught as Lamar Neagle wrapped up the scoring three minutes from time.

The result snaps a three-game winless run for the Impact (4-7-3), who improve to 15 points on the season. The Sounders (7-4-3) are winless in their last five as their first road loss of the season leaves them on 24 points.

Martins broke the deadlock in the 18th minute as he collected a pass from Patrice Bernier and curled a lovely shot past Bryan Meredith at the far post.

Montreal emerged from halftime and quickly doubled the advantage. Mapp took a pass from Bernier and drifted inside from the left flank before firing a low shot past Meredith.

Things went from bad to worse for Seattle as Hurtado received a straight red card in the 56th minute for a rash challenge on Collen Warner.

The Impact took immediate advantage of the extra man as Bernier found Wenger in the center of the box. The rookie fired a shot past Meredith for his third goal of the campaign.

Seattle pulled one back shortly after as Johnson latched on to a through ball from Fredy Montero slipped a shot past the on-rushing Donovan Ricketts.

But not to be undone, the Impact made sure the match ended on a high note as Neagle hit for his first goal of the season. The former Sounders striker pounced on a defensive miscue in the box and placed his shot out of Meredith's reach.

Both sides return to action on Wednesday as Seattle welcomes Sporting Kansas City to CenturyLink Field and Montreal heads to The Home Depot Center to face Chivas USA.






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