MONTREAL, QC. (April 30, 2016) – It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t great. But it worked. The Colorado Rapids gutted out a 2-2 against Didier Drogba and the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo on Saturday afternoon.
Colorado Rapids Survive Montreal Impact, 2-2
The Rapids had to tweak their lineup a bit going into this game. Kevin Doyle made his return to the starting lineup. Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni moved Luis Solignac out to right midfield to allow Doyle to play up top. Marco Pappa is still out with an MCL sprain. Marlon Hairston also slotted in at right back for Colorado.
Montreal played a midweek game against New York City FC and had to rotate some bench players into the starting lineup. Wandrille Lefevre made just his third appearance of the game. Marco Donadel was also available on the bench for Mauro Biello’s side.
The game got out to a sluggish start, with both teams feeling each other out. That all ended in the 9th minute when Ignacio Piatti earned a foul from 10 yards outside the box. Drogba stepped up to take it, and well, did what Drogba does. The free kick rose up over the wall then dropped off to far edge of the post and into the back of the goal.
The Rapids best chance of the half came in the 19th minute. Shkelzen Gashi was able hold the ball up in the midfield and find Jermaine Jones. Jones turned with the ball and took a shot, but it didn’t have much power and goalkeeper Evan Bush made the easy save.
Montreal continued to dominate the first half in possession and chances with the visitors unable to mount much of an attack. Dominque Oduro and Piatti dominated on the wings, giving Mekeil Williams and Hairston all they could handle. The Impact almost doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when Michael Azira cleared a Drogba heel flick off the line.
The half ended 1-0 with Hairston on a yellow card for dissent.
The Rapids were able to level the match in the 47th minute with a very unassuming scoring chance. Coloardo had good build up play down their left flank. Jones was able to find Williams. Williams dribbled the ball towards the touch line then fired a cross in across the goal. Gashi came in, seemingly out of nowhere, beat his defender, and put the ball in the back of the net.
Montreal responded with two straight corners and ultimately the go-ahead-goal. The Impact got the ball into the box, then Harry Shipp laid the ball off to Maxim Tissot, who blasted it far corner from 10 yards outside the box. No Rapids defender was able to close him down and the shot was perfectly placed to get past MacMath.
The Rapids struggled to mount much of an attack, down 2-1. The central midfield wasn’t able to hold into the ball and distribute it well to the attackers on the wing. When the wide players did get the ball, they didn’t do much with it. Gashi took a free kick in the 72nd minute. Axel Sjoberg was able to get to it in the far post to deflect it in front of goal. Bobby Burling was right there to roof it into the top of the net to draw the match level at 2-2.
The Impact responded by throwing numbers forward trying to again take the lead. Other than a shot over the bar from Drogba, they were unable to muster a good chance. The Rapids parked the bus and were able to weather the storm till full time. The match ended 2-2.
Colorado are undefeated in their last four games.
The Rapids host Real Salt Lake in the second meeting of the Rocky Mountain Cup next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 pm MT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The Impact are away to Columbus Crew next Saturday at 5:30 pm MT.
