This was the one game that could ā should? ā 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 arenāt 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 Saturdayās result does complicate matters.
āThe two goals, it happens, but those are things we have to move on from and fix, and then think about Wednesday,ā team captain Patrice Bernier told reporters post-game. āItās a huge game where we have to pick up points. Itās a shame we couldnāt 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 clichĆ©, but it's as simple as that.ā
With three shots on target allowed, Montreal were content with their defensive effort in the circumstances ā desperate opponent, turf field, raucous atmosphere ā 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 ā though heāll kick himself for his failed clearance leading to Seb Hinesā winning goal.
āIn the end, sometimes it can happen that you have three in there and youāre not pushing up,ā head coach Mauro Biello said. āBut 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.ā
But the details made all the difference in a match that Biello described as a āplayoff-type game,ā with good reason. His captain agreed wholeheartedly.
āYou 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,ā Bernier said. āWe 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.ā