WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite a harsh red card for Didier Drogba, the Montreal Impact picked up a point at RFK Stadium on Sunday night, drawing 1-1 against D.C. United. Newcomers Hernán Bernardello and Matteo Mancosu, who both came on as subs, joined forces late on to equalize.
Bernardello’s 86th-minute tally was his first-ever for the Bleu-blanc-noir, while Mancosu delivered his first assist in MLS. This goal allowed the Impact to set a club record, as it is now on a four-game road unbeaten streak.
“This wasn’t our greatest game against a team that was giving everything to get back into the playoff picture, but we were able to come back late on,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “I have to praise my players for how they pushed until the end and believed that they could equalize. We will take this point and move forward.”
“D.C. played a little better than we did, but we stayed in the game the whole time,” said Bernardello. “We got a point despite being down a man, and we’re happy with that. I’m pleased to have scored my first goal after a year without scoring. I’m happy with the 20 minutes that I played.”
Impact tenacious despite Mullins’ early tally
United opened the scoring 20 minutes in. After Marcelo Sarvas recovered the ball near the penalty area, he fed Taylor Kemp on the right. Kemp crossed with his left for forward Patrick Mullins, who leaped to head the ball into the ground and into the Montreal net.
The Bleu-blanc-noir nearly equalized through Nacho Piatti in the 31st minute. After an ill-timed Steve Birnbaum backpass, Piatti pounced and got past goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who was out of his net. Piatti’s shot from a tough angle struck the outside of the post, however, and went out for a goal kick.
“In the first half, we were going up and down, it was fast-paced,” said midfielder Harry Shipp. “We could have done a better job at getting into the half and resting with the ball. But we found a way to get a point in the end, which is important. The sign of a good team is not playing well and still managing to get a result on the road.”
Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush made a great save to keep his team in the game in the 64th minute. On a D.C. United counter, Nick DeLeon came running with the ball down the right and took a fierce shot from outside the box, which Bush stopped.
Dominic Oduro reached an important milestone as he replaced Michael Salazar in the 66th minute, thus making his 300th MLS appearance. He is the 33rd player in league history to reach that number, the 13th among currently active players.
The game could have slipped away from Montreal in the 82nd minute when referee Ted Unkel sent Didier Drogba off for a bump on Marcelo Sarvas, who had just committed his fourth foul of the game – no other player committed more during this game.
But the Bleu-blanc-noir players kept their heads up and scored after a corner kick was only half-cleared. Mancosu took a subtle touch towards Bernardello, who was lurking at the edge of the penalty area. Bernardello took a strong shot that deflected before beating goalkeeper Bill Hamid at his near post.
Next games
The Impact will play an international friendly against A.S Roma this Wednesday, August 3, at 7:30pm at Stade Saputo. Members (season ticket holders) already have their tickets for this match, identified as the “Game to be determined”. Few tickets remain available on impactmontreal.com for this great event.
The next MLS game at Stade Saputo will be played on Saturday, August 6, against the Houston Dynamo (TVA Sports, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets are also still available for this game.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Ambroise Oyongo, Laurent Ciman, Víctor Cabrera, Hassoun Camara; M-Marco Donadel, Kyle Bekker (Hernán Bernardello 71’), Ignacio Piatti, Harry Shipp (Matteo Mancosu 75’), Michael Salazar (Dominic Oduro 66’); F-Didier Drogba
Unused subs – GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Donny Toia, Amadou Dia; M-Lucas Ontivero
DC – GK-Bill Hamid; D-Bobby Boswell, Sean Franklin, Steve Birnbaum, Taylor Kemp; M-Jared Jeffrey (Rob Vincent 56’), Luciano Acosta, Marcelo Sarvas, Nick DeLeon, Patrick Nyarko (Kennedy Igboananike 64’); F-Patrick Mullins (Álvaro Saborío 80’)
Unused subs – GK-Travis Worra; D-Jalen Robinson, Kofi Opare; M-Julian Buescher
GOALS
DC – Mullins (Kemp) 20’
MTL – Bernardello (Mancosu) 86’
CAUTIONS
DC – Sarvas 25’
MTL – Bekker 54’
DC – Mullins 77’
MTL – Bernardello 90’ + 2’
EJECTION
MTL – Drogba 82’
