Offence erupts for 3 first-half goals in win
Third consecutive win means Montreal is just two points away from playoff spot
Ignacio Piatti scored twice as the Impact continued its drive for a playoff spot in the MLS Eastern Conference with a 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire Wednesday night at Saputo Stadium.
The Impact’s third consecutive win gave Montreal sole possession of seventh place, one spot removed from the playoffs. The Impact is only two points behind Columbus and Atlanta United, which are tied for the final playoff spots. Montreal has played one more game than Atlanta, but the Impact has two games in hand on Columbus.
Piatti gave the Impact an early lead in the sixth minute when he scored with a strong individual effort. Piatti closed in on a Chicago defender as he broke up a cross just outside the box. The ball bounced Piatti’s way and he was able to chip the ball past Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson. Defender Johan Kappelhof made an effort to back up Lampson, but was too late to keep the ball out of the net.
Matteo Mancosu made it 2-0 when he scored on a penalty kick in the 37th minute. He made a strong run into the box and managed to get outside Lampson, but the goalkeeper tripped him. That resulted in a yellow card for Lampson and a penalty kick.
Normally, Piatti would line up for the freebie, but he deferred to Mancosu, who scored his first goal since June 17.
“That was a great thing for him to do,” coach Mauro Biello said. “He knew that Matteo has been struggling a bit and that gave him some confidence. He had some good chances and there were a couple of times he could have done better, but it was a good game.”
Mancosu also had an opportunity in the 33rd minute with another good run, but he went a bit too deep and Lampson came out to make the save.
The Impact continued to use its speed to create opportunities and Blerim Dzemaili set up Piatti, who found room between two defenders and scored with a shot from just outside the box. It was his 12th goal of the season and he leads the Impact with eight career multi-goal games. There’s some question as to whether Piatti will be moving on after this season, but Biello said he preferred to concentrate on the action on the field. He conceded there are continuing negotiations with the player he described as one of the best in the league.
Piatti said he hoped to stay in Montreal, but said that he was leaving it to his agent and the team to negotiate.
Mancosu had a chance for a second goal when he went in alone on Lampson in the 77th minute, but the goalkeeper made the stop.
Evan Bush registered his fifth shutout of the season. He recorded two saves, with his best coming in the 68th minute when he stopped a high shot from David Accam from close range.
The Fire held a decided 2-1 edge in possession over the Impact, but Biello noted that much of that time was in Chicago’s end of the pitch.
“This wasn’t our best game in terms of possession,” admitted captain Patrice Bernier. “The important thing is that we played as a team. We have a lot of trust. When something breaks down, there’s
The important thing is that we played as a team. We have a lot of trust. When something breaks down, there’s someone there to back you up.
someone there to back you up. Bush played another solid game and we have two shutouts in a row. How long has it been since we’ve done that?”
This game was the first of four consecutive home games for the Impact, which plays Real Salt Lake Saturday night. The Impact has won six of its last seven home games and has outscored the visitors 15-5 in that stretch.