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MONTREAL – A stoppage-time Didier Drogba free kick gave the Montreal Impact a 3-2 win against the LA Galaxy, this Saturday at Stade Saputo, in front of a sixth straight regular-season sellout crowd of 20,801.
This win – the Impact’s first-ever against the Galaxy in MLS – saw Lucas Ontivero tally his first MLS goal and Ignacio Piatti notch his eighth of the season. Piatti scored on an assist from Dominic Oduro, who was making his 30th start for the club. Giovani dos Santos and Mike Magee scored for the Galaxy.
The Impact (5-4-4, 19 pts) climbs to third in the Eastern Conference, while the Galaxy (5-2-5, 20 pts) sits fifth in the West.
“This was an important win,” said head coach Mauro Biello. “We went through a lot of emotions during that game, but in the end, we’re relieved. We didn’t start well, but we calmed down, and we started creating chances. It was a close game, but Didier scored a great goal.”
Impact comes from behind to clinch win
Drogba scored after a foul conceded just as second-half stoppage time was, in theory, expiring. From about 25 metres, Drogba struck a powerful free kick that goalkeeper Brian Rowe got a hand on but failed to beat away. As the ball landed past him, the crowd wildly celebrated Drogba’s fifth of the season, his 16th career MLS goal already.
“We owed this to our crowd,” said Didier Drogba. “Joining them in celebration like that is the best, and they deserve it. The most important thing was to put the shot on target, especially late in the game. I’m glad that it worked. This was a great win.”
The visitors had taken a lead in the eighth minute. After a handful of crosses in front of Evan Bush’s net, Giovani Dos Santos took advantage of a misunderstanding in the Montreal defence to open the scoring from the six-yard box.
The Impact replied 18 minutes later on a delightful counterattack. Marked by two players on the left side, Didier Drogba released Dominic Oduro down the left, creating a two-on-one. Centre back Jelle Van Damme challenged Oduro, who swiftly pushed the ball into Piatti’s path. Alone in front of Rowe, Piatti finished with his first touch from the right. This was Oduro’s fourth primary assist to Piatti this season, the most assists from one specific player to another in MLS this season.
Ontivero pushed Montreal ahead in the 57th minute. Receiving a through ball from Piatti in the penalty area, Ontivero pulled off a couple of tricks in front of the LA backline before beating Rowe with a precise shot into the top right corner of the frame.
But the Galaxy made it 2-2 seconds later. From the right, Steven Gerrard crossed for Mike Magee, who somehow settled the ball with his heel in mid-air before unleashing a low shot into the back of the net.
The Impact, however, created fine chances in the last minutes until Drogba’s crucial strike.
“Things are turning around in our favour,” said team captain Patrice Bernier. “Seeing the ball go in at the end, especially at home, was important, and that’s good for our confidence and morale. If we keep working like this, things can turn around even more.”
Next games
The Impact will return to MLS action on Saturday, June 18, against Columbus Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium. In the meantime, the Impact will play its two-legged Amway Canadian Championship semifinal against rivals Toronto FC, starting with the away leg at BMO Field on Wednesday, June 1, at 7:30pm (RDS, TSN, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690).
The series will conclude with the home leg at Stade Saputo on Wednesday, June 8, at 7:30pm (RDS, TSN, 98,5fm & CJAD 800 AM). Excellent individual tickets are still available on impactmontreal.com.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Maxim Tissot, Hassoun Camara, Wandrille Lefèvre, Kyle Fisher; M-Marco Donadel (Patrice Bernier 37’), Kyle Bekker, Dominic Oduro (Harry Shipp 78’), Lucas Ontivero (Michael Salazar 88’), Ignacio Piatti; F-Didier Drogba
Subs not used – GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, Eric Alexander; F-Cameron Porter
LA – GK-Brian Rowe; D-Ashley Cole, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme, Robbie Rogers; M-Emmanuel Boateng (Alan Gordon 66’), Nigel de Jong (Jeff Larentowicz 90’+2’), Sebastian Lletget (Baggio Husidic 78’), Steven Gerrard; F-Giovani dos Santos, Mike Magee
Subs not used – GK-Dan Kennedy; D-A.J. DeLaGarza, Leonardo; M-Rafael Garcia
GOALS
LA – dos Santos 8’
MTL – Piatti (Oduro, Drogba) 26’
MTL – Ontivero (Piatti) 56’
LA – Magee (Gerrard, Lletget) 58’
MTL – Drogba 90’+4’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Bernier 68’
LA – Alan Gordon 90’+2’
LA – Daniel Steres 90’+4’
MTL – Didier Drogba 90’+5’
