FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – In front of a record-setting crowd and with major playoff implications on the line, the Montreal Impact walked away with a 1-0 win that clinched them a spot in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. They also forced the New England Revolution to wait until Decision Day to learn their postseason fate.
With an official attendance of 42,947, Gillette Stadium boasted the Revolution's largest home crowd in the team's 20-year history.
With plenty of early pressure, the Revs looked as if they had taken advantage in the 10th minute when Jermaine Jones got behind the Impact line on a Chris Tierney free kick and popped the ball past goalkeeper Evan Bush. But Jones got off the blocks a step too quick and was flagged for offside.
A minute later, Montreal almost saw the momentum shift in their favor when Didier Drogba picked up a loose ball in the box, with space in front of him. However, he then fired his shot point-blank at goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, who gobbled it up.
Much of the rest of the half saw missed opportunities on both ends and physical play from both sides.
In the 28th minute the Impact almost saw their worst nightmare come true as Drogba lay on the turf in pain after Jones inadvertently clipped him on the heel. The Montreal DP limped to the sideline, but did return to the action soon thereafter.
While both sides seemed determined to break the scoreless draw, it would be Montreal that would follow through in the 55th minute on the single-handed efforts of Ignacio Piatti.
Taking the ball into the final third, the Impact forward got caught between two Revs players and twisted off balance. But he managed to plant his right hand on the turf, allowing him to continue to charge forward and blast home a shot from just outside the box.
The goal would be all the Impact would need to clinch their first postseason berth since 2013, while New England managed to miss their fourth straight opportunity to punch their own ticket to the festivities.
Both sides will close out their regular seasons next Sunday on #DecisionDay, with New England heading to the Bronx to face NYCFC, and Montreal hosting Toronto FC at Stade Saputo.
