Thierry Henry wins debut MLS match as Impact boss over Revolution

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:16 am

Maximiliano Urruti's goal in the 80th minute lifted new manager Thierry Henry and the Montreal Impact to a 2-1 victory over the visiting New England Revolution in Saturday's MLS season opener.

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Urruti's high-arcing shot from just outside the box found its way over New England keeper Matt Turner, who had come off his line in an attempt to cut off Urruti's path to the net.

The Impact, playing at Olympic Stadium, earned their first regular season win under Henry, and improved to 4-5-0 in season-opening games.

In rating his side's performance, former Arsenal and Barcelona great Henry used a well-known 1976 Olympic Games reference.

"This is not perfect yet, far from it," Henry said. "Not a lot of teams reach that. The only person I know that did that is Nadia Comaneci. Other than that, nobody gets a 10."

Henry was hired in the offseason at Montreal, his second opportunity as a manager following his disastrous tenure at AS Monaco in 2018-19. It is Henry's second stint in MLS after playing for New York Red Bulls from 2010-14. 

Saturday's game was Henry's third competitive contest with the Canadian side. He remains undefeated after the Impact advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on away goals following a pair of ties with Costa Rican power Saprissa.

New England is winless (0-5-2) over its last seven season openers.

Thierry Henry remains undefeated at Montreal after three competitive matches, including his MLS managerial debut.
David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire

Clement Diop made five saves for Montreal, and also received a big assist from his goalpost in the game's final moments. Tajon Buchanan had a wide-open look at the Impact's net in the 86th minute, but his header deflected off the post.

In the 13th minute, Cristian Penilla took a short pass off a corner and then crossed to an open Teal Bunbury on the right side of the box. Bunbury deposited a right-footed shot to give New England the early lead.

The goal was Bunbury's 35th in a Revolution uniform, tying him with Juan Agudelo for eighth place on New England's all-time scoring list.

Montreal equalized off a set piece of their own in the 37th minute, as Joel Waterman headed a corner to Romell Quioto for another header and the tying goal.

Between CONCACAF Champions League play and Saturday's regular season opener, Quioto has two goals in three games with the Impact. The striker was acquired from the Houston Dynamo in a trade last November.

"I keep on saying since I've been here that we have to fight, that's the minimum that we have to do," Henry said. "I think that what you saw from the beginning, and let's not get carried away, in [Champions League against] Saprissa we wanted to press high and we did and we scored."

Wilfried Zahibo seemingly restored New England's lead in the 73rd minute, but the goal was negated after a video review.

The Impact begin a four-game road swing on March 7 when they visit FC Dallas.

The Revolution play their next two games on their home field, beginning with the March 7 home opener against the Chicago Fire.

Reuters contributed to this report.