MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impact are finding it impossible to hold onto a lead.
A 2-2 draw against Sporting Kansas City at Stade Saputo on Saturday night provided two more examples, as twice the Impact went ahead only to concede a pair of equalizers to Dom Dwyer in a frustrating match.
"It's the same story," said Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush. "It's always, we go up, and we're not smart enough managing a lead. To give up counterattacks when you're winning games and you're ahead in the game, it can't happen. It's unbelievable and it keeps happening.
"It's the same thing over and over: Losing guys in the box, counterattacks when we're winning. It just hasn't been enough, and we haven't been punished enough. We've drawn a lot of games and we've dropped in the standings but it hasn't been to the point where you look at it and you really get scared. So I'm not sure if we need to get smacked in the face by dropping to sixth or seventh, or what it might take to get out of this, but right now it's not good enough and we've got to be better."
The Impact have given up a lead at least once in each of the three games prior to playing Columbus Crew SC to a scoreless draw on June 18. Montreal are 1-1-1 in those games.
On Saturday, Dwyer continued to be a thorn in the Impact's side. Dwyer has scored in five straight games against the Eastern Conference team and has four braces in that stretch. His current total of nine goals against Montreal is the most by any MLS player, with retired New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry coming in second with seven.
"We played offensively and that opened up the pitch in the back," said Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier, who came on for Kyle Bekker in the 69th minute. "We scored, got comfortable, and let our guard down. We didn't give them a lot of chances, but they took advantage of the ones we did give them."
Impact coach Mauro Biello felt that Lucas Ontivero's opener and second goal of the season in the 16th minute and Ignacio Piatti's team-leading ninth on a penalty kick 39 minutes in should have been enough to claim a win.
"It's unfortunate we didn't get the three points," Biello said. "We were dangerous in attack, we played well, we created opportunities, we were dangerous. I think there were good performances in my group, but we gave up two goals. We took a 1-0 lead on an excellent goal, maybe one of the nicest of the year, and then 10 minutes later we give up a goal with Dom Dwyer all alone in the box.
"These are mistakes we can't make at this level, and scoring two goals at home should be enough. It should be enough. You have to know how to manage the game, too. When you have the lead, how to manage it. Yes, it's disappointing that we didn't get the three points. I think on offense we once again showed a lot of good things, even some good defense, but we had a lack of concentration, made a few mistakes and they made us pay for it."
