MONTREAL — Money, no doubt lots of it, will determine what the Impact lineup will look like when they join Major League Soccer next year.
The presence of the New York Red Bulls for a friendly — which the Impact won 1-0 on a first-half goal by striker Ali Gerba before a near sell out crowd of 12,568 at Saputo Stadium Wednesday night — was an indication of what might be necessary if Montreal is to be competitive out of the gate in North America’s premier league.
Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry, the celebrated French international, and defender Rafa Marquez, captain of the Mexican national team, who both started the game, combined are earning $10.2 million this season as the club’s “designated” or franchise players.
Henry, 33, considered one of the best to ever play the game, is making $5.6 million as the second-highest paid player in MLS behind English star David Beckman of the Los Angeles Galaxy, at $6.5 million in the final year of his contract with the club.
Marquez, 32, is third among the best paid players in the league.
New York has the highest average salary in the league this season at nearly $450,000 which is why the league’s average rose jumped by 12 per cent to $154,852 over last year.
It’s also more than half the estimated $800,000 the Impact is paying this season in total salaries, which range from approximately $40,000 to $100,000.
The Impact played like they were already in MLS instead of a team that has only one win in four games (1-2-1) in the second-tier North American Soccer League.
Gerba scored the game’s only goal in 37th minute, heading a cross from Philippe Billy by former Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton.
It was one of several scoring chances the team generated, especially due to the inspired play of midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo on the left wing.
The Impact outshot New York 6-5 in the first half, but New York was unlucky on a shot by former TFC star Canadian midfielder Dwayne DeRosario that hit the post to the left of keeper Evan Bush in the 25th minute. A header by Henry that found the back of the net in 35th was negated by the official’s call for an offside.
Both teams made wholesale changes at half time, giving the contest the appearance of nothing more than an organized scrimmage.
Only Sutton and forward Juan Agudelo played all 90 minutes for New York who came to Montreal directly from a 1-1 tie with the Galaxy in L.A. Saturday.
The Impact had five go the distance, including Bush, who started in place of Bill Gaudette to post a shutout in his first game at the stadium in an Impact uniform. Gerba played 58 minutes.
The Impact’s attitude was, friendly or not the team came to play and got a result that was quite satisfying against a superior side.
“When you come on the field, there are no superstars, just human beings like everybody, so you just have to come and play to at your best ability,” said Gerba. “On the field it’s about playing your best and sometimes when you’re playing the best it pushes you to be the best.”
Di Lorenzo, who played only the first half, said the result was one the Impact must build on, carry over to the league play which resumes for the club when it plays host to the Carolina RailHawks Saturday.
“We’re gaining a lot of confidence,” he said. “We played a good game against Vancouver last week and again today, so hopefully we can keep it up.”
Montreal Gazette
rphillips@montrealgazette.com
The presence of the New York Red Bulls for a friendly — which the Impact won 1-0 on a first-half goal by striker Ali Gerba before a near sell out crowd of 12,568 at Saputo Stadium Wednesday night — was an indication of what might be necessary if Montreal is to be competitive out of the gate in North America’s premier league.
Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry, the celebrated French international, and defender Rafa Marquez, captain of the Mexican national team, who both started the game, combined are earning $10.2 million this season as the club’s “designated” or franchise players.
Henry, 33, considered one of the best to ever play the game, is making $5.6 million as the second-highest paid player in MLS behind English star David Beckman of the Los Angeles Galaxy, at $6.5 million in the final year of his contract with the club.
Marquez, 32, is third among the best paid players in the league.
New York has the highest average salary in the league this season at nearly $450,000 which is why the league’s average rose jumped by 12 per cent to $154,852 over last year.
It’s also more than half the estimated $800,000 the Impact is paying this season in total salaries, which range from approximately $40,000 to $100,000.
The Impact played like they were already in MLS instead of a team that has only one win in four games (1-2-1) in the second-tier North American Soccer League.
Gerba scored the game’s only goal in 37th minute, heading a cross from Philippe Billy by former Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton.
It was one of several scoring chances the team generated, especially due to the inspired play of midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo on the left wing.
The Impact outshot New York 6-5 in the first half, but New York was unlucky on a shot by former TFC star Canadian midfielder Dwayne DeRosario that hit the post to the left of keeper Evan Bush in the 25th minute. A header by Henry that found the back of the net in 35th was negated by the official’s call for an offside.
Both teams made wholesale changes at half time, giving the contest the appearance of nothing more than an organized scrimmage.
Only Sutton and forward Juan Agudelo played all 90 minutes for New York who came to Montreal directly from a 1-1 tie with the Galaxy in L.A. Saturday.
The Impact had five go the distance, including Bush, who started in place of Bill Gaudette to post a shutout in his first game at the stadium in an Impact uniform. Gerba played 58 minutes.
The Impact’s attitude was, friendly or not the team came to play and got a result that was quite satisfying against a superior side.
“When you come on the field, there are no superstars, just human beings like everybody, so you just have to come and play to at your best ability,” said Gerba. “On the field it’s about playing your best and sometimes when you’re playing the best it pushes you to be the best.”
Di Lorenzo, who played only the first half, said the result was one the Impact must build on, carry over to the league play which resumes for the club when it plays host to the Carolina RailHawks Saturday.
“We’re gaining a lot of confidence,” he said. “We played a good game against Vancouver last week and again today, so hopefully we can keep it up.”
Montreal Gazette
rphillips@montrealgazette.com
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