In true Montreal Impact fashion, clinching a spot in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs needed to happen in the most dramatic of ways.
Thierry Henry’s squad traveled to Audi Field and came from behind, not once but twice, to grab a 3-2 win over D.C. United on Decision Day presented by AT&T. Montreal will be back in the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Eastern Conference final in 2016.
“This game mirrors our season," Henry said. We always needed to fight, we did it and we didn’t give up. Could we have clinched before? Yes of course. But we did it today, away from home, down at halftime against a team that was hot at the moment and we needed to fight for it.”
"We deserve this win but I’d like to tip my hat to this D.C. United team that came back from far. Unfortunately they couldn’t get through and it worked out for us."
HIGHLIGHTS: D.C. United vs. Montreal Impact
The Impact were helped by their three marquee players: Bojan, Romell Quioto and Victor Wanyama. Wanyama gave his team a second breath with a powerful header off a corner kick situation at the 74th minute. Quioto then added the game-winning brace at the 88th minute thanks to assists from Montreal’s mid-season acquisitions Mason Toye and Mustafa Kizza.
“I’m happy for Mason today for the assist that he did,” Bojan said. “It’s not easy when you come to a new team. We were fighting to make the playoffs and he didn’t play too much. Today he came on, he did a good job and made a good assist.”
The victory paired with realizing the club’s objective of making the playoffs means a lot to the Impact. For Bojan, the players felt like they accomplished something in spite of the COVID-19 reality and the team re-location to Red Bull Arena to complete the 2020 MLS season.
“It’s been difficult, I don’t know if people realize what this team did in the last two months,” Bojan said. “I think that this team deserves to win. We showed it today, we showed it in a lot of games that we played. This team is strong physically, mentally and emotionally. That’s why we won today.”
Henry shared that sentiment. The Impact dwindled down the Eastern Conference standings heading into Decision Day and came close to drop out of playoff contention. Despite facing the difficult COVID-19 reality of Canadian MLS clubs, Montreal punched their ticket for a play-in playoff game and the team took it as a feat in itself.
“The thing that comes back for me is that this group suffered a lot this year,” Henry said. “And to have something to look at and say at least we’re in the playoffs and let’s see what can happen next is very good."
