Montreal Impact shut out struggling San Jose Earthquakes

Designated players Saphir Taider and Ignacio Piatti scored as the Montreal Impact cruised to a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in MLS action Saturday night.

Evan Bush, with two saves, earned his seventh clean sheet of the season for Montreal (9-12-0), which extended its winning streak at home to five games.

Montreal bounced back after a 3-0 loss in New York on Wednesday. It was the Impact's fifth win in the past six games.

The lowly Earthquakes (2-11-6) are now winless in their last 10 matches dating back to May 12. They are 0-6-4 since their last victory more than two months ago.

San Jose was looking for just its second road win of the season, but fell behind early.

Taider gave Montreal the lead in the eighth minute, the team's second fastest goal of the season. The 26-year-old got a pass from Piatti in the box and settled the bouncing ball with his right foot before firing a shot into the corner of the net with his left.

San Jose defender Shea Salinas gave Taider too much space on the play and the Impact midfielder made the visitors pay with his fourth goal of the season.

The Earthquakes, who fell to 0-9-3 when conceding the first goal of the game, have yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

Piatti put the game to bed with his 10th goal of the year in the 74th minute.

The Argentine received a pass from Alejandro Silva just outside the penalty box. With no Quakes player closing him down, Piatti fired a side-footed shot with a lot of spin just out of goalie Andrew Tarbell's reach, to the delight of the 15,485 fans at Saputo Stadium.

Tensions were high between Earthquakes coach Mikael Stahre and a few of his players.

Stahre removed starter Anibal Godoy from the game in the 41st minute. Godoy, with no apparent injury, walked straight to the dressing room. Godoy's replacement, Fatai Alashe, played four minutes before being subbed off at halftime. Alashe and Stahre got into a screaming match on the sideline.

Impact centre back Rod Fanni (virus) was not in the lineup. Jukka Raitala got the start beside Rudy Camacho.

Notes: The Impact have not conceded a first-half goal in five straight contests. ? This was the only regular-season game between San Jose and Montreal this season. ? Montreal honoured three former Impact players at halftime: Marco Di Vaio, Eduardo Sebrango and John Limniatis, who also coached the club in 200809.