It took Lassi Lappalainen less than four minutes to make his presence known. And then less than one minute after halftime.
Just two days after he was acquired, the new Montreal Impact winger got behind the Philadelphia Union defense and scored a pretty goal in front of his new fans in the fourth minute of his MLS debut Saturday.
The 20-year-old Finnish winger, who came to Montreal on a six-month loan from their Italian sibling club Bologna, added a second goal in the 46th minute. You can watch both goals above.
“It was a great game,” said the Finnish winger after the match. “Seeing the crowd standing and applauding when I was substituted was great. I was a bit surprised to get the start, but I’ve been training well, and I was fit for a game. My teammates helped a lot too, and the pass I received on the first goal was right at my feet.”
Lappalainen's performance coincided with a stellar night for the Impact, as they beat the East leaders 4-0 at Stade Saputo. The win ensures they will stay above the playoff line for another week.
