Montreal Impact 1, Houston Dynamo 0 | 2016 MLS Match Recap

Mike Levitt

The Montreal Impact got a glimpse of what life might be like when Didier Drogba hangs up his boots.

With the Ivorian legend sidelined by suspension for Saturday night's matchup with the Houston Dynamo at Stade Saputo, Matteo Mancosu got his chance and came through by scoring a 76th-minute beauty to lead the home side to a 1-0 victory.

The Impact struggled for much of the night, as Houston enjoyed the better of the chances – but it was the Italian on loan from Bologna that proved the difference as he expertly brought down a Marco Donadel pass at the top of the box – first with his chest then his thigh – and in one motion swiveled to strike the ball across his body past a diving Joe WIllis.

With the loss, the Dynamo extend their winless streak to five and remain winless at Stade Saputo all-time. With the win, Montreal stays on pace with Toronto FC and remain in third place in the Eastern Conference.

Three Things

SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR: Houston will walk away very, very disappointed in this result. They without a doubt had the better of the chances on the day, as Montreal keeper Evan Bush came up big to stop excellent opportunities by Will Bruin, David Horst, and especially Abdoulie Mansally. For what it's worth, Bruin's goal draught – he's only scored once since March – may be ending soon as the young striker routinely got himself into good spaces and created three solid chances.
TRENDS CONTINUE FOR HOUSTON: Stade Saputo was not the place Houston wanted to be when looking to end a goal draught that has seen the Dynamo score only twice since July 2. After Saturday's loss, they remain winless all-time in Montreal's playground with a 15-2 goal differential. Ouch.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS PRETTY … but a win's a win at the end of the season. Montreal stay neck-and-neck with Toronto for second place in the East, and if a playoff run beckons, this is the kind of result that will be pivitol – grinding out wins like Saturday when you don't show up to play.