Highlights
The Impact hung on the by the skin of its teeth to earn its first ever playoff berth, despite its worst month of the 2013 campaign. Winning just one of five league games, the Impact managed to clinch a playoff spot on the last day of the season with a loss by the Chicago Fire in New York. The team’s only win came on October 19 over the Philadelphia Union at Stade Saputo. Earning a spot in the knockout game, the Impact fell to the Houston Dynamo 3-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium on October 31.
WATCH: Ouimette's first MLS goal
Challenges
The Impact lost five of six games played across all competitions in October. To say that the team had trouble scoring would be an understatement, having been shutout in every single one of those losses, including three straight 1-0 defeats to Houston (October 4), New England (October 12) and LA (October 16) to start the month.
Standout performances
Marco Di Vaio managed to score in the win over the Union, and became just the 11th player in MLS history to reach the 20-goal plateau in a single season. He was nominated for league MVP honours and was named to the league’s Best Xl All-star team. Defender Karl W. Ouimette also found the back of the net in the win over Philadelphia. The 84th minute game-winner was the first goal of his career.
This and That
The home game against the Union also served as the final match in the stellar career of soccer legend Alessandro Nesta after an injury forced him to leave in the game’s late stages. The former UEFA Champions League and World Cup winning center back finished his career as a member of the Montreal Impact, playing a season and a half in MLS. As a result of the injury, fellow central defender Nelson Rivas was re-inserted into the lineup for the playoff game after missing the entire 2013 regular season.
Results
October 4: Houston Dynamo 1-0 Impact
October 12: Impact 0-1 New England Revolution
October 16: LA Galaxy 1-0 Impact
October 19: Impact 2-1 Philadelphia Union
October 26: Toronto FC 1-0 Impact
October 31: Houston Dynamo 3-0 Impact
