MONTREAL – MLS has its first team eliminated from the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Though they found two late goals to beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 at Stade Saputo on Saturday night, the Montreal Impact were knocked out of postseason contention by virtue of New York’s and Columbus’s wins. Montreal (24 points, 6-17-6) still sit bottom of the Eastern Conference.
San Jose (28 pts, 6-12-10), who remain eighth in the West, saw their winless streak move to nine games, with the Quakes last win coming on Aug. 8. San Jose is now 11 points out of the playoff places with just six games left.
Jack McInerney scored the winner in the 81st minute. San Jose ‘keeper Jon Busch dived to his left to tip a Marco Di Vaio curler wide, but McInerney found the rebound, knocking the ball in from close range with his knee.
Dilly Duka added the insurance marker in the 87th minute. Duka displayed some of his better moves on the left side of the box, sending Sam Cronin the wrong way before curling a shot inside the far post.
As has been the case for several weeks, Ignacio Piatti was Montreal’s spark in attack. Through his first touch alone, Piatti created two fine chances in the first five minutes of the encounter. He also forced Busch into an awkward save near the end of the first half when his apparent cross turned into a chipped attempt on goal. Di Vaio replaced Piatti in the 57th minute; Piatti has been carrying a knee injury and once again applied ice to his knee when he came off.
Montreal had most of the ball during the encounter, especially in the first half. They tried to test Busch from distance repeatedly. Busch made four saves, while his opposite number Troy Perkins made one. Perkins was beat in the 17th minute, but he was fouled in the build-up to the goal, ruling it out.
San Jose saw more of the ball in the last 20 minutes of the game, but failed to seriously threaten the Montreal net. The Impact, meanwhile, found their two goals in the last 10 to send the Stade Saputo crowd home happy.
Both teams will be on the road next Saturday, with the Impact traveling to Columbus and San Jose playing at Colorado.
MLSsoccer.com Men of the Match
Rank |
Player |
What We Saw |
1 |
<span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/marco-di-vaio" target="”_blank”">Marco Di Vaio</a></span> |
Though he only played the final 33 minutes, Di Vaio was instrumental in the Impact’s victory, setting up both goals to power Montreal to all three points. |
2 |
<span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/dilly-duka" target="_blank">Dilly Duka</a></span> |
Turned in a lively performance along the wing, scoring a fine goal in the 87th minute to secure the Impact’s victory. |
3 |
<span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/ignacio-piatti" target="”_blank”">Ignacio Piatti</a></span> |
Unfortunately had to come off with an injury in the second half, but looked good in his 57 minutes on the field, consistently troubling San Jose’s defense. |
