The Montreal Impact were in sore need of a win, and they got it thanks to an early strike from one of their youngest players.
An impressive 13th-minute goal from teenager Ballou Tabla stood as the winner for the Impact, who went into RFK Stadium and handed D.C. United a 1-0 loss on Saturday. Tabla found the back of the net via a solo effort, dribbling away from a pair of defenders before racing forward and firing a low shot in from the top of the 18-yard-box.
D.C. United's attack was better in the second half, but never found an equalizer. Luciano Acosta came closest on a blast in the 57th minute that was denied by the crossbar.
Goals
- 13' – MTL – Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla Watch
Three Things
- TEENAGE FEVER: Ballou Tabla earned a second consecutive start for the Montreal Impact on Saturday, and the 18-year-old midfielder repaid head coach Mauro Biello's faith in him with a strong 78-minute shift. Tabla not only scored the decisive goal in the Eastern Conference affair with an impressive individual effort that forced D.C. United to have to chase from early on, but he also chipped in some work on the defensive side.
- HELP WANTED: D.C. United were on the wrong end of a shutout for the fifth time this season, and their attack left plenty to be desired. Despite improving in the second half after Patrick Mullins was inserted into the game, D.C. still had a tough time breaking the Impact's strong back line. Ben Olsen's side finished the match with just two shots on target, which is simply not good enough when you win the possession battle and are at home.
- LATE SCRATCH: While goalkeeping was not the reason for D.C. United's narrow loss on Saturday, they do have something to worry about in that regard. Regular starter Bill Hamid was a very late scratch in the match because of an injury, and that will be something to keep an eye on in the coming days. Worra did do a fine job of replacing Hamid against Montreal, but D.C. will be hoping their No. 1 netminder is healthy enough to contribute as soon as possible.
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