This was the one game that could – should? – have ended it all.
New York City had lost to D.C. United. Toronto FC had defeated the Philadelphia Union. With a Montreal Impact win at Orlando City on Saturday night, the red line would have thickened in the East so as not to let anyone else above it. Six teams would have been qualified for the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, with only seeding left to be determined.
That scenario will have to wait. Sixth-place Montreal lost 2-1 at Orlando, who pulled to within a point from the Impact.
The Impact aren’t in huge trouble just yet. They still have two games in hand, four games left to play in total, starting this coming Wednesday at the New York Red Bulls. But Saturday’s result does complicate matters.
“The two goals, it happens, but those are things we have to move on from and fix, and then think about Wednesday,” team captain Patrice Bernier told reporters post-game. “It’s a huge game where we have to pick up points. It’s a shame we couldn’t take a point tonight, but our heads have to remain high, because we gave it everything. Let's move on to Wednesday. It's a cliché, but it's as simple as that.”
With three shots on target allowed, Montreal were content with their defensive effort in the circumstances – desperate opponent, turf field, raucous atmosphere – but they struggled going forward for much of the game.
Dominic Oduro stood out for his contribution up top. But Didier Drogba subbing in for a half-hour proved how big an influence he has been since joining the team – though he’ll kick himself for his failed clearance leading to Seb Hines’ winning goal.
“In the end, sometimes it can happen that you have three in there and you’re not pushing up,” head coach Mauro Biello said. “But as soon as Didier came in, he held up the ball, and we were able to move forward as a team. It made a difference in us going forward in the second half, just by Didier holding up the ball and allowing our midfielders to win it and get it. We had possession deep in the end in the second half.”
But the details made all the difference in a match that Biello described as a “playoff-type game,” with good reason. His captain agreed wholeheartedly.
“You can always say there was a foul, a save that could have been done, but still, we can avoid getting ourselves in those situations, however much we may whine about it,” Bernier said. “We score a goal that could perhaps have been waved off. It was a close game. It looked like a tie, but it went their way.”
