USL News Release
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced the USL First Division Team of the Week honors Tuesday for Week 19 of the season, honoring Montreal’s Felix Brillant as the Player of the Week.
With the Preliminary Round of the CONCACAF Champions League looming and sitting in ninth place, the Montreal Impact's two-game sweep of the Atlanta Silverbacks on the week was a critical step in the club's race for the USL First Division postseason. The pair of 3-1 victories enabled the Impact to jump past Portland and Minnesota for seventh, moving within one point of the Silverbacks, three of fifth place and only five points from third.
With Tony Donatelli leading the way in the first contest Wednesday, Felix Brillant, in just his second start in four games since joining the club, duplicated the effort Sunday with two goals and an assist.
Impact forward Roberto Brown opened the score in the 11th minute on a cross from Brillant. On the sequence, midfielder Sandro Grande took a strong shot of about 20 meters that goalkeeper Ryan McIntosh stopped, diving to his left. Brillant recovered and centered the ball at the far post. Brown then deflected and netted it with a header, scoring his fourth goal of the season.
Brillant doubled Montreal’s lead in the 50th minute. Following a pass from Brown that went through two Silverbacks defenders, Brillant unloaded a shot that beat McIntosh to his left.
Brillant scored the insurance goal in the 79th minute. After accepting a deep pass from Antonio Ribeiro, Brillant came alone in front of McIntosh and beat him with a expertly taken chip shot.
The former two-time PDL champion with Cape Cod is in his second USL-1 stint having previously played for Virginia Beach in 2005-06 after beginning his professional career with the New England Revolution. He joined the Impact midseason after spending 2007 with FK Sparta Sarpsborg in Norway.
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USL First Division Team of the Week
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Pos
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Name
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Team
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Highlights
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G
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Jay Nolly
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Vancouver
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Seven saves in 2-1 win and 0-0 draw
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D
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Ross Smith
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Rochester
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Goal in 2-0 win over Atlanta
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D
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Nevio Pizzolitto
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Montreal
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Led team in two 3-1 wins over Atlanta
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D
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Omar Jarun
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Vancouver
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Led team to win and draw
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M
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Tony Donatelli
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Montreal
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Goal, assist in 3-1 win over Atlanta
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M
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Lyle Martin
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Vancouver
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Two assists in 2-1 win over Portland
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M
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Felix Brillant
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Montreal
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Two goals, assist in 3-1 win over Atlanta
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M
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Josh Gardner
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Seattle
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Two goals in 4-3 win over Carolina
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F
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Fabrice Noel
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Puerto Rico
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Two goals in 2-1 win over Charleston
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F
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Alex Afonso
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Miami
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Three goals in 3-0 win over Charleston
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F
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Hamed Diallo
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Carolina
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Three goals in 4-3 loss at Seattle
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