The Philadelphia Union were up 3-0 at home and cruising towards their first victory of the 2017 MLS season on Saturday, only for their wretched misfortune to return.
Despite scoring three goals in the first 40 minutes, the Union were pegged back by a stunning comeback from the Montreal Impact at Talen Energy Stadium, as a goal from Ignacio Piatti and two from substitute Anthony Jackson-Hamel allowed the Quebec side to snatch a 3-3 road draw.
Piatti's fine solo run gave Montreal hope just before the break. Then Jackson-Hamel's 87th-minute finish erased a superb first half from Philly, headlined by a brace from Roland Alberg, to leave the Union still winless after seven games.
Goals
- 5' – PHI– Roland Alberg Watch
- 23' – PHI– C.J. Sapong Watch
- 39' – PHI – Alberg (PK) Watch
- 41' – MTL – Ignacio Piatti Watch
- 69' – MTL – Anthony Jackson-Hamel Watch
- 87' – MTL – Jackson-Hamel Watch
Three Things
- PHILLY CAN'T CATCH A BREAK: It's hard to imagine a more painful way to draw a game than the slumping Union did on Saturday. After their world-beating opening to the match, the DOOP squad turned in a nervy, timid second-half performance – epitomized by sub Fafa Picault's failure to convert a one-on-one chance vs. Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush that would have iced a victory. The pressure on coach Jim Curtin won't ease much after this one.
- JACKSON-HAMEL SEASON: Two weeks ago reports (since retracted) swirled about Jackson-Hamel, who has struggled for playing time for the past few seasons, possibly being released. Now Montreal's Homegrown attacker has scored three goals in IMFC's last two games, all of them crucial. It's the stuff that sports storybooks are made of. Now will he become a trusted regular for coach Mauro Biello?
- BARRY BRIDGE BRUISERS: With hot tempers and hard challenges in all directions, this meeting of the Eastern Conference's bottom two teams bore all the hallmarks of two desperate sides eager to dig out a result. Referee Nima Saghafi largely kept his cards in his pocket, but he could have brought them out multiple times in the first halfvalone.
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