WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Montreal Impact lost 3-1 to D.C. United, on Saturday evening at RFK Stadium. Defender Jeb Brovsky scored Montreal’s lone goal, his first career goal in MLS.
The Impact is now in third place of the Eastern Conference, with 35 points in 21 games, following a 3-2 win by the New York Red Bulls over Sporting Kansas City tonight. Montreal is now three points behind New York for first place, but has two games in hand.
D.C. United opened the scoring in the 20th minute, when midfielder Luis Silva beat Perkins to his right. The former TFC player won the ball back in the box and took a low shot towards the second post, ending the Impact’s goal against streak at 201 minutes.
The Impact tied it up in the 52th minute, when Impact defender Jeb Brovsky scored his first-ever goal in MLS. The left-back played a one-two with captain Davy Arnaud inside the box before taking a low shot, which beat DCU keeper Willis to his right.
Forward Conor Doyle, who came on in the 64th minute for Dwayne De Rosario, restored D.C. United’s lead in the 68th with his first MLS goal, redirecting James Riley’s cross at the first post and in between Perkins’ legs.
D.C. United then scored an insurance goal in stoppage time. On a breakaway, Doyle gave the ball to Jeffrey who had the simplest task of scoring in an empty goal.
Postgame comments
“There’s always a bitter taste when you lose. We also allowed goals at bad times,” said Impact head coach Marco Schällibaum. “Although we started well in the second half, we were not able to win this game. We also didn’t do well mentally tonight.”
“I feel that we missed some grit in the second half and we weren’t up for a fight at the end,” added defender Jeb Brovsky. “We got away from what we need to do to win. We have the technical and tactical abilities to do well and we need to get back to it.”
“We started the second half well, scoring a good goal, but our reaction from the second goal we conceded was poor,” said team captain Davy Arnaud. “With the way we reacted, we didn’t deserve to get back in the game. We were hoping instead of going.”
Other highlights
Perkins kept his team in the game throughout the game. The Impact keeper denied back-to-back chances by Nick DeLeon and De Rosario in the 15th minute.
The Impact came close to scoring the equalizer in the 25th minute. Nyassi found himself in a good scoring opportunity, following a play by Patrice Bernier, but his shot was saved by Willis. A few seconds later, Justin Mapp’s low shot was again saved by the D.C. keeper.
Designated Player Hernan Bernardello was in the 18-man roster for the Impact for the first time since joining the club on July 23.
Next games
The Impact returns home for a Wednesday night CONCACAF Champions league matchup on August 7; the team’s first of the group stage at Stade Saputo against the San Jose Earthquakes, at 8pm (ET).
The team will play its next MLS regular season game on August 10 at 8:30pm (ET), against the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park.
Lineups
MTL – G-Troy Perkins; D-Jeb Brovsky, Hassoun Camara, Matteo Ferrari, Dennis Iapichino; M-Davy Arnaud, Patrice Bernier (Daniele Paponi 70’), Andrés Romero (Felipe 74’); A-Justin Mapp, Marco Di Vaio, Sanna Nyassi (Blake Smith 69’)
Unused Substitutes: G-Evan Bush; D-Wandrille Lefèvre; M-Collen Warner, Hernan Bernardello
D.C. – G-Joe Willis; D-James Riley, Daniel Woodward, Dejan Jakovic, Chris Korb; M-Nick DeLeon (Collin Martin 76’), Jared Jeffrey, Perry Kitchen, Kyle Porter, Luis Silva (Sainey Nyassi 69’); A-Dwayne De Rosario (Conor Doyle 64’)
Unused Substitutes: G-Bill Hamid; D-Taylor Kemp, Conor Shanosky, Ethan White
Goals
D.C. – Silva 19’
MTL – Brovsky (Arnaud) 52‘
D.C. – Doyle (Riley) 68’
D.C. – Jeffrey (Doyle, Martin) 90’
Cautions
D.C. – Kitchen 29’
D.C. – Korb 48’
MTL – Romero 62’
D.C. – Porter 65’
D.C. – Jeffrey 87’
