Orji Okwonkwo and the Montreal Impact finished a disappointing season in style — and potentially made things more difficult for the New York Red Bulls in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
In a Decision Day presented by AT&T matchup at Stade Saputo on Sunday, the Impact rolled to a 3-0 win over the Red Bulls, spoiling any chance they had of earning a home playoff game and dropping them to the six seed in the Eastern Conference.
Okwonkwo led the way with a goal and an assist for ninth-place Montreal, who were already eliminated from playoff contention coming into the regular season finale.
The Impact dominated the first half, jumping out to a 2-0 lead and nearly scoring one or two more if not for being called offside.
Their first came in the 23rd minute when Okwonkwo sprinted down the field and laid it off for Bojan, who ended Luis Robles’ three-game shutout streak with a clean finish. Even worse for the Red Bulls, fullback Kyle Duncan came up lame chasing Okwonkwo and left the contest for Michael Murillo, who was the victim of Montreal’s second goal in the 37th minute.
Murillo didn’t get called for a penalty after Jukka Raitala went down on the box, but Maximiliano Urruti stole it from him seconds later and banged it past a surprised Robles.
Okwonkwo remained hot after the break, making it 3-0 in the 62nd minute when he chested home a cross from Saphir Taider, helping to seal a result that snapped Montreal’s four-game winless streak.
New York’s best chance to score came in the 80th minute when a Murillo strike from distance hit the crossbar.
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MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: The Impact’s persistence on their second goal really seemed to suck some life out of the Red Bulls.
Next Up
- Montreal: End of season.
- RBNY: Oct. 20 at Philadelphia Union, 3 pm ET (FS1, Fox Deportes) | Round One, Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs
