OSA SOCCER ACADEMY CONGRATULATES IMPACT MONTREAL FOR WINNING THE

USL 1 CHAMPIONSHIP!

OSA Soccer Academy congratulates the Montreal Impact team in winning their third North American

league championship in the USL First Division Championship series with a 3-1 victory. The victorious

Canadian team, an OSA Soccer Academy partner, won the championship in the second leg of the

finals drowning the defending champion Vancouver Whitecaps, with the first leg ending 3- 2 in favor

of the Montreal team.

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OSA SOCCER ACADEMY VISITS MONTREAL

NEWS BRIEF: SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

MONTREAL - Managers of the OSA Soccer Academy, a training center for international student

players based in Florence, Italy attended the match between the Montreal Impact and the Carolina

RailHawks, Wednesday, at Saputo Stadium. The OSA representatives were in Montreal during the

last few days to explore new possibilities of collaborating with the Impact, among which the

organization of international matches next season.

The OSA Academy had organized the Impact’s preseason tour in Italy last February, as well as an

intensive clinic in Florence, offered by the Impact Soccer Schools in July.

The Academy has expanded to various cities, including Florence, Lisbon and Barcelona, and

presents full immersion training sessions, which are offered by world-class soccer professionals in

state-of-the-art facilities. The organization had touched base with Impact executives last September

in Montreal.

On the photo, from left to right: Joey Saputo, Giuseppe Pezzano, Nick De Santis and Andrea

Magherini.

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Source: Montreal Impact

THE IMPACT 2009 CHAMPIONS OF USL-1

POST-MATCH RELEASE: OCTOBER 17, 2009

MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact has clinched the third championship of its history, Saturday, at

Saputo Stadium, in front of a sellout crowd of 13,034, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1, (6-3

on aggregate goals), in the First Division USL final championship. “Since the start, our intention was

to become champions,” noted Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. We showed up today with the

right attitude and adapted well to the different situations that came up on the field. I’m very proud of

my team and I think we deserve what we are living today.”

Midfielder Tony Donatelli scored the first goal of the game on a penalty at the 30th minute. Donatelli

scored his third goal in the playoffs with a low shot that beat goalkeeper Jay Nolly to his right. On the

previous sequence, defender Shaun Pejic had illegally tackled forward Roberto Brown in the penalty

box. Pejic was ejected from the game for this fault, allowing the Montreal Impact to play with a one-

man advantage on the field as of the 29th minute.

Montreal then doubled the lead at the 40th minute. On a deep pass from Roberto Brown, which was

executed with the exterior of the foot, Joey Gjertsen scored in the top corner of the goal, to the left of

Nolly.

Less than two minutes later, Roberto Brown scored a third goal for the Impact. Brown accepted a

short pass from behind from Peter Byers inside the 18-yard box, and fired a high shot that found the

back of the net in the opposite corner.

At the 44th minute, Whitecaps midfielder Ansu Toure narrowed the lead by finishing off with a header

an action started on the left flank by forward Marlon James. Posted near the goal line, Toure’s head

shot left no chance to goalkeeper Matt Jordan.

Goalkeeper Matt Jordan improved the team record with nine career wins in the playoffs with the

Impact and earned six consecutive wins in the 2009 playoffs.

“This season has been such an emotional rollercoaster,” declared Matt Jordan. “Regardless of what

happened this season, we continued to fight and I believe we really deserve to be champions. We

worked hard as a team not only during this game, but throughout the season. It’s an honour to have

won this final for the organization and for the fans.”

This was the third championship with the Impact for veterans Mauro Biello and Nevio Pizzolitto, and a

second for Adam Braz, Patrick Leduc and Eduardo Sebrango. This was Sebrango’s fifth career title in

the USL-1, representing a new league record.

“For part of the season, we were at the bottom of the standings, but we proved we were the best

team of the USL,” declared Nevio Pizzolitto. “Winning this championship wasn’t about luck. It was

thanks to our hard work that we succeeded. We climbed up and we deserved this win. We are so

happy.”

Mauro Biello entered the game at the 80th minute and was welcomed with a standing ovation from

the crowd. He played his 40th career match in the playoffs with the Impact, while Patrick Leduc and

Adam Braz are both at their 20th game.

“This season has been unique,” mentioned team captain Mauro Biello. “We went through difficult

circumstances, but we always managed to react well and come back on the right track. I think we

really grew up as a team and in character, and it’s amazing to celebrate yet another championship

with this great team.”

Montreal had earned its first two titles in 1994 and 2004.

Details of the upcoming championship festivities to be held in Montreal will be unveiled shortly.

GAME SUMMARY

PHOTOS PÉPÉ AT SAPUTO STADIUM

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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact

Info: 514-328-3668 (Ext. 227)