USL News Release
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced the USL First Division Team of the Week honors Tuesday for Week 20 of the season, honoring Montreal’s Peter Byers as the Player of the Week.
Still on their quest for the playoffs after sitting at the bottom of the table for several weeks, the Impact travelled to Carolina Saturday and quickly found themselves facing a daunting task with an early red card that left the Impact a man down. But the outstanding play of recent addition Peter Byers highlighted the night.
After a delay of 135 minutes due to violent thunderstorms -the longest game interruption in club history, two goals from forward Peter Byers (45th and 83rd minute) allowed the Montreal Impact (10-10-4; 34 points) to shut out the Carolina RailHawks, Saturday evening, at WakeMed Park, in Cary, North Carolina. With this 10th victory this season, the Impact has moved up to sixth place in the First Division USL standings.
The Impact were forced to play with ten men starting at the 14th minute, following defender Nevio Pizzolitto’s expulsion due to an elbow on forward Ronald Cerritos. Impact head coach John Limniatis was also expelled by referee Chris Penso at the 20th minute after contesting the latter’s decision during a delay in the substitution of an Impact player.
The Antigua and Barbuda international scored his first career goal with the Impact during his first start with the club. Afer accepting a long pass from midfielder Pato Aguilera through the Carolina defense, Byers went alone towards RailHawks goalkeeper Chris McClellan, easily outplayed him and netted the ball in front of a lone goal.
RailHawks midfielder Santiago Fusilier was also expelled at the 76th minute, after tackling Impact defender Cédric Joqueviel.The even terms allowed Montreal to secure the victory with a second strike from Byers.
Byers scored the insurance goal at the 84th minute by deflecting near the goal line with the foot, a centering pass from Joey Gjertsen, who came from the left wing and who had entered the game at the 57th minute.
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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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Andrew Weber
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Montreal
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Five saves in 2-0 win at Carolina
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D
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Jon Greenfield
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Minnesota
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Assist in 1-1 draw at Miami
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D
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Takashi Hirano
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Vancouver
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Goal in 1-1 draw at Puerto Rico
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D
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Nigel Henry
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Puerto Rico
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Assist in 1-1 draw at Vancouver
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D
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Bruno Menezes
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Miami
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Goal in 2-1 loss to Minnesota
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M
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Pato Aguilera
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Montreal
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Assist in 2-0 win at Carolina
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M
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Tiger Fitzpatrick
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Rochester
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Led team in 1-0 win at Atlanta
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M
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Osvaldo Alonso
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Charleston
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Led team in 0-0 draw against Puerto Rico
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F
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Nathan Knox
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Minnesota
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Two goals in win, draw at Miami
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F
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Peter Byers
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Montreal
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Two goals in 2-0 win at Carolina
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F
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Eduardo Sebrango
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Vancouver
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Goal, assist in 2-0 win against Atlanta
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