Crystal Palace Baltimore tie Montreal 1-1 at the Maryland SoccerPlex

Palace Baltimore (5-9-5) failed to capitalize on a Montreal Impact team (6-8-6) reduced to 10 men at the Maryland SoccerPlex, tying 1-1 on Saturday night. Even before Simon Gatti was sent off for his second bookable offense in the 56th minute, Palace had the lion\'s share of possession and opportunities but went 1-0 down on a Tony Donatelli penalty kick in the 63rd minute. Gary Brooks leveled the score off a Takuro Nishimura cross in the 77th minute.

Palace looked sharp from the opening whistle and passed the ball around well. A one-two in the 7th minute, gave winger Tsuyoshi Yoshitake the space to cross a well-weighted ball onto the head of Gary Brooks who steered the opportunity past the Montreal left hand post.

Baltimore maintained much of the possession for long periods of the first half, but failed to really test Impact goalie, Matt Jordan. Brooks, who looked hungry all night, put a low fizzer on goal in the 21st minute from outside the box but Jordan got down well to save it.

Brooks was again involved in Palace\'s best chance of the half. Palace striker, Matthew Mbuta shrugged off a defender inside the 18 yard box and put a perfect cross onto the head of Gary Brooks eight yards out but he headed it right at Jordan.

Montreal didn\'t make any meaningful in roads in the first half and failed to put a shot on goal. The best opportunity came from Ali Gerba who found himself with a few yards of space and rifled a shot off defender, Andrew Marshall\'s chest. The ball came right back to Gerba who snatched at the shot and put the ball wide from outside the 18 yard box.

Montreal came back into the second half a lot hotter than they left the competition, committing two fouls in the first two minutes. From one of the resulting free kicks, a cheeky effort by Yoshitake from almost 40 yards out nearly caught Jordan unawares and he had to scramble to make a save at his near post.

In the 56th minute, a sliding challenge by Gatti on Neto saw him get his second yellow of the evening and an early shower. It was after going down a man that Montreal looked more dangerous. After an innocent looking ball was cleared from the box by Baltimore\'s defense, referee Ayodeji Obisesan pointed to the penalty spot for a challenge on Donatelli. Donatelli stepped up and slotted the resulting penalty to put Montreal up 1-0.

Palace continued to look for an opening in a very disciplined Impact defense and found the gap they were looking for in the 77th minute. It was Baltimore\'s danger man, Brooks, again that did the damage. He latched onto a Nishimura cross and headed it back across the goal to level the score. It was his second  goal of the season and his and second strike against Montreal in as many games.

Donatelli continued to menace the Palace goal mouth despite the man deficit. His free kick on 81 minutes was hit hard but too high and in added time he again tested Bush with a looping header that the Baltimore netminder took under his cross bar. It stayed level after three minutes of extra time and the referee blew the final whistle with the score at 1-1.

"I think we executed our game plan very well," said Palace Head Coach, Jim Cherneski. "We kept the ball well which means they had to chase. We still have to work on the final third, but we are getting numbers in the final third now which is an accomplishment in and of itself."

"It was tremendous stuff," he went on to say. "I\'d pay good money to see that."


RESULT: Crystal Palace Baltimore 1 - 1 Montreal Impact (half-time 0-0)

Crystal Palace Baltimore lineup:
Bush, Veeder, Pejic, Marshall, Flores, Yoshitake, Lader, Neto, Nishimura, Brooks, Mbuta

Goal: Brooks (77\')
Cautions: Yoshitake (81\'); Bush (62\')
Subs not used: Mark, Teixiera, Fusilier, Perez, Basso, Healey, Gonzaga

Montreal Impact lineup:
Jordan, Aaboubou, Braz (Terminesi), Pizzolitto, Gerba (Leduc 58\'), Donatelli, Charles, Billy, Gatti, Ribeiro, Byers (Sebrango 73\')

Goals: Donatelli (PK 63\')
Caution: 18\' - Charles; 42\', 56\' - Gatti
Ejections: Gatti
Subs not used: Agourram, Djekanovic, Soares

Referees:
Ayodeji, Obisesan, Michael Donovan, Corey Parker, Alexander Luttmann

Attendance:
703