Please enable Javascript to watch this video
MONTREAL – Despite several chances to score, the Montreal Impact had to make do with a 2-2 tie against Sporting Kansas City, Saturday night, in front of yet another good Stade Saputo crowd of 20,032 supporters.
Lucas Ontivero and Ignacio Piatti scored for Montreal, while Dom Dwyer replied with a brace for Sporting KC. The Impact (5-4-6, 21 pts) trails Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Union by five points, but with two games in hand on all three teams at the top of the standings.
“We played well and created dangerous chances, but we conceded two costly goals,” said head coach Mauro Biello. These are mistakes that we shouldn’t be making. Two goals at home should be enough. Not getting the three points is disappointing, but we showed good things offensively and defensively.”
Impact returns on the offensive
After two straight 0-0 draws, the Impact showed its true colours at kickoff as Didier Drogba immediately shot from the centre circle on goalkeeper Tim Melia, who didn’t seem to expect such an introduction. The Impact opened the scoring after a strong start, with several opportunities.
“We played pretty well, but they took advantage of a couple of lapses to score two goals,” said team captain Patrice Bernier. “When you want to play attacking soccer, you leave space open. They didn’t create many chances, but they finished them. We have to take our responsibilities, because we have to both attack and defend.”
Ontivero gave the lead to the home side in the 16th minute. After a fine display of skill in front of Benny Feilhaber, Didier Drogba crossed into the path of an overlapping Hassoun Camara down the right. Camara crossed in front of the six-yard box for Lucas Ontivero, who nodded the ball past Tim Melia for his second MLS goal.
Kansas City made it even five minutes later on another header. A long Roger Espinoza ball over the defence found Dom Dwyer in the penalty area. With his back to goal, Dwyer managed to redirect the ball home.
Ignacio Piatti, on his return from injury, got Montreal back ahead in the 38th minute with his ninth of the season. After a clever ball over the top by Kyle Bekker, Drogba chested the ball down in the area before Jimmy Medranda brought him down. Referee Mathieu Bourdeau pointed to the spot and Piatti converted the penalty kick with a low shot to Melia’s left, with the ‘keeper diving the other way.
Dwyer pulled Sporting KC level again in the 59th minute. On the counter, Feilhaber fed Dwyer on the edge of the area. From there, Dwyer took a quality strike at the far post with his left foot to complete his brace with his eighth goal of the season.
“We have to manage games better,” said Ambroise Oyongo. “We take the lead, then we concede. We have to remain focused all game long. We paid for our mistakes. We have to take all three points in our next home game.”
The Impact then threw everything forward to take another lead. The best opportunity came, once more, from Ontivero’s head. After a fine Eric Alexander pass for Drogba, down the right, the Ivorian crossed for Ontivero, but his header at the far post didn’t beat Melia.
Hassoun Camara wrote another page of the Impact history book in the 42nd minute as he played his 10,000th minute for the Impact since joining the club in 2011. Camara, the 14th player in Impact history to reach this milestone, celebrated with an assist on Ontivero’s goal, his seventh career assist in MLS.
Upcoming game
The Impact’s next game will take place at Stade Saputo on Saturday, July 2, as the New England Revolution and Kei Kamara will take on the Impact at 5:30pm EDT (RDS, TSN2, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets are still available for this game presented by Husqvarna on impactmontreal.com.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Ambroise Oyongo, Victor Cabrera, Wandrille Lefèvre, Hassoun Camara; M-Eric Alexander, Kyle Bekker (Patrice Bernier 69’), Lucas Ontivero (Johan Venegas 79’), Ignacio Piatti; F-Didier Drogba, Dominic Oduro (Michael Salazar 89’)
Subs not used – GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Maxim Tissot, Kyle Fisher; M-Harry Shipp
KC – GK-Tim Melia; D-Ike Opara, Jimmy Medranda, Lawrence Olum, Saad Adbul-Salaam; M-Benny Feilhaber (Brad Davis, 90’ + 5’), Roger Espinoza, Soni Mustivar; F-Connor Hallisey (Kevin Ellis, 90’ + 1’), Dominic Dwyer (Diego Rubio 84’), Jacob Peterson
Subs not used – GK-Alec Kann; D-Seth Sinovic; M-Justin Mapp
GOALS
MTL – Ontivero (Camara, Drogba) 16’
KC – Dwyer (Espinoza) 21’
MTL – Piatti (PEN) 39’
KC – Dwyer (Feilhaber) 59’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Ontivero 24’
KC – Medranda 38’
MTL – Oyongo 43’
MTL – Drogba 55’
