Montreal Impact 4-2 FC Edmonton: Patrice Bernier Bails Out L’Impact Late

May 14, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Montreal Impact forward Jack McInerney (99) celebrates his goal against FC Edmonton with teammates midfielder Hernan Bernardello (23) and midfielder Felipe Martins (7) during the first half at at the Stade Saputo. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sport

Karl Ouimette and Frank Klopas, you’re off the hook for now. Montreal Impact bookend Patrice Bernier bails out Klopas’s boys, who won, 4-2, at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Que. to defeat Colin Miller’s FC Edmonton 5-4 on aggregate in the 2014 Amway Canadian Championship semifinals. They will take on either Toronto FC or the Vancouver Whitecaps in the final.

Here are six things we learned, followed by player ratings, for Wednesday night’s match between the Montreal Impact and FC Edmonton.

1. Jack Mac strikes early

Early on in the first half, Edmonton were pressing, looking to be more calculated with their attack. As for Montreal, there was a sense of urgency. Felipe Martins’s first shot in the fifth minute missed wide left. Montreal striker Jack McInerney scored in the 10th minute thanks to Justin Mapp. McInerney picked his spot to coolly slot it home. Sanna Nyassi nearly make it 2-0 to L’Impact seconds later. Eddies midfielder Mike Banner busted his knee in the 13th minute of play and had to be subbed for Eddie Edward.

2. More fun from McInerney

In the 17th minute, Sanna Nyassi and Mapp found a streaking McInerney on the right side of the box to make it 2-0 Montreal. A nice backheel by Mapp set up Jack Mac’s brace. In the 19th minute, Nyassi forced a save from John Smits, who was having it rough early at Stade Saputo. A shot from Edmonton’s Daryl Fordyce in the 24th minute was collected by Evan Bush.

3. Close calls from Montreal in first half

A free kick from Edward in the 31st minute was cleared by Hassoun Camara. In the 33rd minute, McInerney could have had a hat trick but was called back for offsides. Nyassi could not reach a cross from Mapp in the 38th minute. Hanson Boakai’s first shot in the 44th minute collected by Bush. Edward was cautioned for a shirt tug on Nyassi in the third minute of first half stoppage time.

Montreal Impact FC Edmonton
5 Attempts on Goal 3
3 Shots on Target 2
2 Shots off Target 0
0 Blocked Shots 1
0 Corner Kicks 2
6 Fouls 6
10 Open Play Crosses 4
1 Offsides 0
0 First Yellow Cards 0
0 Second Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
25 Duels Won 23
52% Duels Won % 47%
250 Total Pass 153
81% Passing Accuracy % 71%
61.9% Possession 38.1%

4. Impact deliver an impact early in second

The Impact wasted no time to put the pedal to the medal on the Eddies. Early on in the second half, a corner in the 46th minute from Montreal’s Hernan Bernardello was headed in by Jeb Brovsky to make it 3-0 Montreal. Smits was injured on a save on Hassoun Camara in the 53rd minute but was otherwise able to get up. Neil Hlavaty tried his luck in the 57th minute but the volley went over the crossbar. McInerney had another chance for a hat trick in the 58th minute of play but missed wide.

5. Edmonton claw back into the hunt

The last thing Montreal wanted was complacency. Boakai had a shot in the 61st minute but couldn’t keep the ball down and it skied over the crossbar. Boakai had an easy 1-v-1 in the 65th minute but made a meal of it missed the far right post. Eddies striker Frank Jonke got Edmonton on the score sheet in the 67th minute off an assist from Boakai.

Karl Ouimette, who was the goat last week, was destined to be the goat in this match, too. He conceded a penalty in the 69th minute, scored by Jonke, to make it 3-2 Montreal, but 4-4 on aggregate and the advantage on away goals. A volley from Patrice Bernier in the 73rd minute missed wide right.

6. Bernier the perfect bailout package for La Belle Province

Now it was Montreal who were forced to chase the game. A shot from Nyassi in the 78th minute missed wide of the post. Boakai was cautioned in the 79th minute for a professional foul. Andres Romero’s substitition in the 82nd minute was perhaps the trump card for Klopas. McInerney had another chance to earn his hat trick in the 83rd minute but missed. Boakai was subbed out in the 86th minute. A questionable would-be penalty call in the 88th minute by Drew Fisher was instead a Patrice Bernier free kick outside the box that was saved by Smits. A cross from Camara in the 90th minute was cleared.

A free kick from Mapp in the second minute of second half stoppage time was collected by Smits. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, a penalty was finally given by Fisher on a handball by Kareem Moses. Hlavaty was cautioned for dissent. Bernier’s conversion was the eventual winner. Afterwards, Miller and Impact owner Joey Saputo continued to jaw at each other in the spirit of rivalry.

Montreal Impact Player Ratings

Evan Bush 5, Hassoun Camara 6, Jev Brovsky 7, Karl Ouimette 4, Heath Pearce 6, Maxim Tissot NR, Patrice Bernier 10, Hernan Bernardello 7, Felipe Marting 6, Sanna Nyassi 6, Justin Mapp 8, Jack McInerney 9, Andres Romero NR, Santiago Gonzalez NR

FC Edmonton Player Ratings

John Smits 4, Mallan Roberts 3, Albert Watson 4, Eddie Edward 4, Kareem Moses 1, Lance Laing 5, Mike Banner 2, Daryl Fordyce 5, Hanson Boakai 7, Tomi Ameobi 2, Neil Hlavaty 5, Horace James NR, Michael Nonni 3, Frank Jonke 8