Impact finally find back of the net in loss — their own

If you can’t score, you can’t win.

That reality hit home for the offensively challenged Impact Saturday as they dropped a 2-0 decision to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium.

The Impact found the back of the net early in the game, but it was an own goal that sent Montreal to its 11th loss in 15 games. They have scored only 14 goals this season and have been shut out six times. The loss dropped Montreal into 10th place in the MLS Eastern Conference, seven points out of a playoff spot.

Dallas improved to a 8-1-5 on the season and moved into first-place tie in the Western Conference with Sporting Kansas City.

The Impact experienced a bit of bad luck to fall behind 1-0 in the fifth minute. A foul by Alejandro Silva provided Mauro Diaz with a free kick and he delivered a ball into a crowded box. The ball wound up in the Montreal net, but the play was originally wiped out because Matt Hedges was offside.

But a video replay awarded the goal to Dallas when it showed the delivery was headed away from the goal by a Montreal defender only to be headed into the net by Matteo Mancosu.

Dallas went ahead 2-0 when Diaz scored on a penalty kick in the 18th minute. The freebie was awarded after defender Rudy Camacho fouled Maximiliano Urruti in the box.

Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush guessed correctly when he dove to his right and he got a touch on Diaz’s low shot, but not enough to keep it out of the net.

Camacho was back after missing two weeks with an injury.

Mancosu had a chance to put Montreal on the scoreboard as time was running out in the first half. He took a pass from Silva, cut to the right outside Hedges in the box and managed to get a shot past goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez. The ball struck the far post and came out to Ken Krolicki, who was unable to to control his shot off the rebound.

There was another lost opportunity in the 61st minute when Saphir Taïder put a shot off the crossbar. Mancosu headed the rebound past Gonzalez, but was ruled offside on the play.

“It was an unlucky night for us, but we had to do something more to win the game,” said Mancosu.

The Impact was short on firepower because designated player Ignacio Piatti wasn’t 100 per cent. He was dressed but didn’t play.

The Impact return to Saputo Stadium Wednesday to meet Orlando City (7:30 p.m., TVA Sports, TSN690 Radio).