Emotional 2-2 tie between the Montreal Impact and the LA Galaxy

It was an evening dedicated to Karl W. Ouimette' sister, it was an emotional night for the Montreal Impact and its extended family in attendance at Stade Saputo. The stakes were high and the players responded well as both teams parted ways on a 2-2 tie.

The Impact's 2-0 lead at half-time was enough to deflate a strong LA Galaxy team. Marco Di Vaio and Ignacio Piatti score for Montreal as Zardes and Gordon score for LA.

It was a tale of two halves in which the Impact dominated the first 45 minutes. Di Vaio and Romero almost drew first blood early in the game. If the club is not willing to admit that the counter-attack is its bread and butter, the first goal of the game started so.

Felipe finds Piatti with a through ball as the Argentinean DP goes towards goal. Right outside the box, he teases the LA defense to deliver a precise pass to Duka, who was at the edge of the box on his left. The American midfielder controls the ball and calmly delivers a short part into the 6-yard box of keeper Brian Rowe. Di Vaio taps in the easy goal after beating the LA defense to the ball.

Di Vaio and his teammates ran to the bench to hug Karl W. Ouimette to show support for his sister Julie, who passed away after a 12-year battle with Leukemia early last week.

Felipe was involved again in the Impact's second goal when he found himself close the LA 18-yard box. He finds Piatti again who fakes right and shoots a low powerful shot for Montreal's 2nd goal.

Stade Saputo goes wild, twitter explodes and madness ensues.

Injuries did not help the Impact's quest for an important victory when both defenders, Ferrari and Camara, had to go off due to injuries.

The Galaxy took advantage of the situation when Gyasi Zardes finds himself alone in the box and taps in a goal from a laser pass from Juninho, at the 59th minute.

Injuries to the backline then forced the bleu-blanc-noir to make two early changes, starting with Matteo Ferrari coming out for Wandrille Lefèvre at the half. About 12 minutes later, Hassoun Camara went down with an elbow injury.

While the French defender was receiving treatment on the sidelines, the Galaxy took advantage of the extra man on the field to score its first of the game. Gyasi Zardes found some space alone near the far post and tucked away a low pass from the opposite flank by Juninho in the 59th minute.

Robbie Keane reminded everyone why he is a world class player when he finds himself alone on the left side of the box and delivers a low cross. Alan Gordon slides into the ball to score the tying goal.

It was a hell of a game to follow as a soccer/football across the MLS and beyond. It's not everyday that you could say that you saw Di Vaio, Keane, Ferrari and Donovan play on the same pitch in Montreal, or anywhere else in North America.

The Impact will travel to Boston to face the New England Revolution and Jermaine Jones on Saturday. The bleu-blanc-noir will then prepare for its most important game of the season when it hosts the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, at Stade Saputo, in the first of two meetings in CONCACAF Champions League.

Lineups

MTL - GK-Evan Bush; D-Eric Miller, Heath Pearce, Matteo Ferrari (Wandrille Lefèvre 45'), Hassoun Camara (Karl W. Ouimette 59'); M-Calum Mallace, Felipe, Andrés Romero, Dilly Duka (Maxim Tissot 73'), Ignacio Piatti; F-Marco Di Vaio

Subs not used: GK-Troy Perkins; D-Futty Danso; F-Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Jack McInerney

LA - GK-Brian Rowe; D-Dan Gargan, Leonardo, Omar Gonzalez; M-Baggio Husidic (Alan Gordon 62'), Juninho, Landon Donovan, Marcelo Sarvas, Stefan Ishizaki (Robbie Rogers 45'); F-Gyasi Zardes (Jose Villareal 90'), Robbie Keane

Subs not used: GK-Brian Perk; D-James Riley, Tommy Meyer; M-Rafael Garcia

Goals

MTL - Di Vaio (Duka, Piatti) 28'
MTL - Piatti (Felipe, Duka) 43'
LA - Zardes (Juninho) 59'
LA - Gordon (Keane, Donovan) 64'

Cautions

LA - Gargan 37'
LA - Donovan 44'
MTL - Piatti 53'
MTL - Felipe 80'
MTL - Mallace 87'

Highlights