COLUMBUS, Ohio – A wild game saw the Montreal Impact draw 4-4 at MAPFRE Stadium at Columbus Crew SC, this Saturday night.
In second-half stoppage time, Dominic Oduro scored the Impact’s fourth goal, adding to tallies by Ignacio Piatti – twice – and Didier Drogba. Oduro had already pulled this trick on April 27, at NYCFC, having already delivered an assist on Piatti’s stoppage-time winner in Chicago on April 16.
The Impact (4-3-3, 15 pts) remains top of the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of rivals Toronto FC. Crew SC (2-4-3, 9 pts), meanwhile, stays in ninth place in the East.
“This was a bizarre game, but we showed a lot of character, coming back from a 4-1 deficit on the road,” said head coach Mauro Biello. “We’re heading back home with an excellent point. Defensively, we have to address certain things, and we have to improve our offensive animation, but I’m glad that we showed that we can score at any time.”
Eight goals scored
Crew SC opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Justin Meram, in space on the left, crossed for Kei Kamara, whose header went past goalkeeper Evan Bush.
The Impact replied 10 minutes later. An Ambroise Oyongo cross from the right found Piatti, whose touch sent the ball Drogba’s way. After a step on the edge of the area, Drogba pushed the ball to Piatti, who had moved ahead. After a fantastic touch, Piatti, surrounded by three players, curled a strike at the far post, past goalkeeper Steve Clark.
But Kamara, who hit the woodwork twice in quick succession in the first half, gave Columbus another lead just before the break. On a long ball by Michael Parkhurst, confusion in the Montreal defence gave Kamara a clear shot on Bush’s goal, which he took full advantage of. For the first time this season, the Impact had conceded twice in the first half.
After the break, Crew SC scored twice in minutes. A rebound fell favourably for Federico Higuaín in the area, and he rounded Bush for the third. Higuain then converted a harsh penalty after a duel between Marco Donadel and Justin Meram, extending Crew SC’s lead to three.
“Attacking players did their job today, and we have to tip our hat to them,” said Laurent Ciman. “Defensively, we have to show our fans that tonight was a mistake. We didn’t execute well and weren’t focused enough tonight. We can’t be satisfied.”
But the Impact didn’t give up. First, Piatti drew a foul from Ethan Finlay for another penalty kick. Drogba shot to Clark’s left to pull one back.
Piatti took it upon himself to make it 4-3, on a fine Oduro play. In space on Clark’s left, Oduro played the ball back to the penalty spot, when Harry Shipp dummied it for Piatti, who beat two defenders before slotting the ball home.
Oduro pulled the Impact level in stoppage time. On a long Oyongo throw, Drogba flicked the ball at the penalty spot, where Oduro finished with a fierce shot.
“We need to sort out certain things, but rallying like that could be a turning point for us,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “We have to look at this in a positive manner. We were down three goals on the road, but we got one back, scored straight after and started believing. I knew we would get a result once we got to 4-3.”
Upcoming games at Stade Saputo
The Montreal Impact’s next game is scheduled at Stade Saputo on Saturday, May 14, at 5pm EDT, taking on the Philadelphia Union (RDS, TDS, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets, as well as season tickets and Pick-4-Packs, are still available on impactmontreal.com.
The club would like to remind supporters that its following game against the LA Galaxy on Sunday, May 29, has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 28, at 8pm EDT (RDS, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). All tickets dated May 29 for this game will be valid at all Stade Saputo entrances on May 28.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Ambroise Oyongo, Victor Cabrera, Laurent Ciman, Maxim Tissot (Michael Salazar 82’); M-Patrice Bernier (Kyle Bekker 68’), Marco Donadel, Dominic Oduro, Harry Shipp (Lucas Ontivero 73’), Ignacio Piatti; F-Didier Drogba
Subs not used – GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Wandrille Lefèvre; M-Johan Venegas, Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé
CLB – GK-Steve Clark; D-Harrison Afful (Gaston Sauro 87’), Michael Parkhurst, Tyson Wahl, Corey Ashe (Waylon Francis 69’); M-Federico Higuain (Rodrigo Saravia 90’ + 3’), Justin Meram, Wil Trapp, Mohammed Saeid, Ethan Finlay; F-Kei Kamara
Subs not used – GK-Brad Stuver; M-Cedrick, Hector Jimenez; F-Ola Kamara
GOALS
CLB – Kamara (Meram, Ashe) 16’
MTL – Piatti (Drogba) 26’
CLB – Kamara (Parkhurst) 45+1’
CLB – Higuain 48’
CLB – Higuain (PEN) 53’
MTL – Drogba (PEN) 57’
MTL – Piatti (Oduro) 58’
MTL – Oduro (Drogba, Oyongo) 90’ + 3’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Ontivero 82’
CLB – Francis 82’
