Twice the Montreal Impact had leads, and twice they let three points slip right out of their grasp.
The Impact were forced on Saturday to settle for a 2-2 draw against the visiting Colorado Rapids in front of a sold-out crowd at Stade Saputo. The game marked the first time this season that Montreal failed to collect all three points after taking a lead. In fact, it was the team’s first blown lead in MLS since Aug. 5, 2015.
“We want to have this mindset at home where you take a lead and it’s going to be hard for the other team to climb back in the game, and they have to feel that mentally,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We could have done a better job of winning second balls and not giving them those opportunities. We have to learn from it.
“The three points were there for the taking today. We made mistakes that cost us. To give up two goals, we have to do better.”
Montreal (4-3-2) led at halftime on a ninth-minute free kick from Didier Drogba, but the Rapids wasted no time answering back after the restart. Shkelzen Gashi scored his second goal of the season in the 47th minute, connecting on a low cross from Mekeil Williams.
A blistering strike from 30 yards out by defender Maxim Tissot in the 50th minute quickly reclaimed a lead for the Impact, but Colorado (5-2-2) got another equalizer from Bobby Burling in the 73rd — his first goal of the season.
“Not being able to hold onto a lead twice is the sign of a team who’s struggling a little,” said Montreal defender Wandrille Lefevre. “We need to tighten things up.”
Saturday’s game against Colorado was the Impact's third in the last eight days. The club lost 2-0 at home versus rivals Toronto FC last Saturday and drew 1-1 on the road against New York City FC in midweek.
Montreal thought the short rest was a factor against the Rapids.
“They were waiting for us,” Biello said. “They had fresher legs. It wasn’t easy for us. We didn’t work this week. It was a rest week.”
Added Lefevre: “The legs were heavy during the second half, but it’s not an excuse. You can compensate for heavy legs by being smart. We weren’t smart enough.”
