All eyes were always going to be on this second MLS game of the 2020 season, given that Thierry Henry was looking to guide his Montreal Impact side to his first league result. It wasn't easy, but they got just that, with a late Maximiliano Urruti chip handing him a win on his league debut.
After playing out the second leg of a Concacaf Champions League against Saprissa just days ago, advancing on away goals, Montreal was tired and dealing with a number of injuries. The New England Revolution, with its very strong front line, likely felt confident stepping into the Olympic Stadium, where the home fans waved banners reading "Our maple syrup is better than yours." That confidence was confirmed before 15 minutes were up, as Teal Bunbury, unmarked toward the far post, easily volleyed in the first goal.
It was a goal that called back to Montreal's recent struggles on set pieces — yet it was New England that got caught out shortly before the halftime whistle blew. Maximiliano Urruti sent in the cross from the corner, Joel Waterman headed across, and Romell Quioto put it into the back of the net for an equalizer.
New England seemingly took the lead once more with another set piece, but the goal was waved off on Video Review due to an offside from scorer Wilfried Zahibo. Seemingly flustered by the decision, the Revs found themselves caught on the break, and Urruti — who had had a couple fairly significant misses earlier in the match — finally found the net, lobbing the ball over New England goalkeeper Matt Turner for the Impact winner.
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Goals
- 13' – NE – Teal Bunbury | WATCH
- 37' – MTL – Romell Quioto | WATCH
- 80'– MTL – Maximiliano Urruti | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: Thierry Henry has done it: He's proved that he can not only steer his new side through the first challenging matches of the Concacaf Champions League and come away with a ticket to the next round, but also that he can take a tired, injury-decimated side, set his players up against an agile attack, and grab his first MLS win. Bruce Arena is now left with a difficult assignment, having to find the right defense, one that will also hold up against set pieces.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: When the Revs had the goal taken away, it seemed the players tuned out a little, with Matt Turner caught out completely on a Montreal break shortly after. With no defenders to speak of in the New England area, Maximiliano Urruti had no trouble lobbing the ball over Turner's head for the winner.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: After struggling to find the net a number of times in both halves, Maximiliano Urruti finally grabbed his goal—and the winner for Montreal. After scoring just four last season, Urruti seems determined to answer his critics from the off.
Next Up
- Montreal: Saturday, March 7 at FC Dallas (3 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US; TVAS in Canada)
- New England: Saturday, March 7 vs. Chicago Fire (1:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
