An action packed first half saw the Montreal Impact and Philadelphia Union trade chances on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Stade Saputo. Didier Drogba struck first following a corner kick in the third minute, while the Union equalized through C.J. Sapong in the 24th minute. The draw, combined with the league’s other results, still sees the Impact atop the Eastern Conference.
Didier Drogba 3’ (1-0)
The goal
This was Drogba’s fourth goal of the season and his third in consecutive games. The goal resulted from an Impact corner kick that Philadelphia couldn’t properly clear. Drogba anticipated the clearance at the top of the box, controlled the ball with his thigh and rocketed a shot into the top left corner of the goal.
Drogba read the situation perfectly. As Marco Donadel swung the ball in, Drogba was quick to realize that Philadelphia’s Sapong would be first to reach the ball to clear. Knowing this, Drogba took steps backwards towards the top of the box. Fortunately for the Impact, Sapong’s couldn’t lift his diving header clearance. It landed at Drogba standing all alone. From here, the Ivorian effortlessly settled the bouncing ball with one touch and volleyed it with a well-struck laced shot into the goal.
The technical components were second-to-none from Drogba on the action. His reading of the action allowed him to intercept the clearance and score.
Donadel’s ball on the corner was intended for Laurent Ciman, the target on most Montreal set pieces. The familiar play starts with a decoy run that attracts an opposing player to create space for Ciman to attack. Donadel hit the ball into this area, but Sapong anticipated well to clear. From there, the action relied on luck and reaction to finish off the set piece play. On this corner kick goal, Drogba’s reaction was smart.
