The Montreal Impact are fighting for their playoff lives, so Wednesday's dominant 3-0 victory over the Chicago Fire at Stade Saputo couldn't have come at a better time for the Quebec side.
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With his team sitting just outside the postseason picture, Ignacio Piatti turned in a stellar two-goal performance to lead the Impact to a crucial win. The three points inches Montreal closer to the Columbus Crew and Atlanta United, the two teams directly above the Impact in the Eastern Conference playoff race. With Montreal still holding two games in hand on the Crew, Wednesday's win over Chicago couldn't have come at a better time for the Impact.
Or for Toronto FC.
Montreal's archrival, currently perched atop the MLS standings with 47 points, was surely hoping for the Impact to keep the Fire at bay. Chicago is one of two teams nipping at Toronto's heels for first place, and Wednesday night's match came just three days prior to a TFC trip to Illinois for another big Eastern Conference clash.
Chicago and Toronto have been trading places atop the table all year long, with the recent dip by the Fire coinciding with continued TFC excellence to allow MLS' original Canadian team to take a firm grasp of the top spot.
The Impact, meanwhile, have been at the other end of the playoff picture, scrambling to keep pace with the top six in the conference but coming off a pair of lopsided victories to breathe life into a season that — at one point — appeared to be getting away from them.
What. A. Goal.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 17, 2017
Piatti makes it three for @impactmontreal! #MTLvCHI https://t.co/aW7tFV9OJJ
So while the denizens of Stade Saputo were cheering for another sublime performance from Piatti, you can be sure that fans of their hated rival were breathing a little bit easier with each goal.