MONTREAL --- The Impact still need help to make the 2018 Major League Soccer playoffs, but a win over their rival, and a last-gasp goal from an unexpected team, assured it would come down to the last game of their season.
Ignacio Piatti scored both goals in Montreal’s 2-0 victory over Toronto FC on a chilly fall afternoon at Saputo Stadium. Montreal needed a victory and for D.C. United or the Columbus Crew to lose or draw their games to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention.
“It was do-or-die today,” Impact midfielder Samuel Piette said. “We had to win to give ourselves as much of a chance as possible, and hope other results fell in place. It was in our favour today.”
MORE: Bush, Taider shine in win as Montreal Impact fight for playoffs
However, a 96th-minute stoppage-time penalty kick from Orlando City’s Sacha Kljestan’s took away three points from the Crew. Montreal is two points behind Columbus for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with both teams playing for their postseason lives during next Sunday’s Decision Day. The Impact need a victory and a Columbus loss or draw to clinch a playoff spot.
“Few people could’ve predicted that victory for Orlando,” Montreal Impact manager Remi Garde said. “It’s football. That’s why you have to be focused and concentrated until the last minute.”
“We would’ve been content with a draw,” Impact ‘keeper Evan Bush said. “But we’re elated about a victory. Now it puts a little bit more pressure on [Columbus]. Obviously, we have to do our part.”
2-0 contre @torontofc
— Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) October 21, 2018
2 buts de Nacho
2 points de retard sur @columbuscrewsc
2 doigts croisés toute la semaine 🤞
2-0 v #TFCLive
2 goals by Nacho
2 points behind #CrewSC
2 fingers crossed all week 🤞#IMFC pic.twitter.com/9vpK12fbWc
Montreal’s fortunes did not look so bright at the start of the match. Toronto initially controlled the flow of the game before the Impact seemed to break through in the 35th minute courtesy of an own goal by Toronto FC’s Chris Mavinga.
Quincy Amarikwa had the ball lobbed to him off a free kick from Saphir Taider before firing a chance on target, forcing Toronto FC’s goalkeeper Alex Bono to the rescue. The Syracuse alum made a second save off Rod Fanni after giving up a rebound, only for the ball to go off Mavinga’s leg and into the back of the net. However, the video assistant referee was called following the goal, and it reversed the play due to Amarikwa being offside just as Taider’s free-kick was launched into the box.
Amarikwa was unlucky once more in the 52nd after going one-on-one with Bono after receiving a pass going forward. The former San Jose Earthquake fired to Bono’s left, only to hit the post and ultimately miss a wide-open net.
With the Saputo Stadium crowd getting restless, and probably checking their phones to see how D.C. United and Columbus were doing, they were not pleased when Ignacio Piatti was brought down by TFC’s Eric Zavaleta in the 70th minute. Following a review from VAR, the Impact were awarded a penalty kick. Piatti then slotted the ball past Bono from the penalty spot and gave Montreal a 1-0 lead.
It was an instance, for Montreal, where VAR took away before giving.
“If [VAR] is in my favour I feel great,” Impact midfielder Micheal Azira said. “If it’s for the other team it’s really frustrating.”
Piatti added his second of the day just before stoppage time. Alejandro Silva passed the ball to Piatti just outside the box. Despite Mavinga and Bono being in the vicinity, Piatti took advantage of their miscommunication to steal the ball away from the two before scoring in an open net and securing a victory in Montreal’s home finale.
“After halftime we thought we could pick it up a little bit more,” Impact midfielder Micheal Azira said. “We need the result because Toronto wasn’t playing for anything, so we had to go out there more hungry than them. It was great to get the win and it puts us back in the picture with Columbus losing today.”
The Impact’s journey to the playoffs still has serious roadblocks in their path. Montreal’s make-or-break game will be a road game against the New England Revolution next Sunday. Montreal has only won three times away from home this season, and their previous visit to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough saw them trampled 4-0 back in April. In addition, Columbus will host lowly Minnesota United next Sunday.
“It’s hard,” Piette said. “But we can’t change our routine too much. Think we’ll need to approach similarly to how we’ve done over the last few weeks.”
“You focus on you because that’s all you can control,” Impact striker Quincy Amarikwa said. “I just know we have an opportunity to make the playoffs and we can only do that if we win. So that’s all we can control. So, we win the game, we give ourselves a chance and then from there we try to win an MLS Cup.”