Impact 2 - Red Bulls 1 : Montreal is going to the Eastern Conference final

The Montreal Impact kept the same game plan both home and away by keeping a tight defensive unit and play on the counter against the New York Red Bulls. The game was hard fought on both sides as the Red Bulls dominated big chunks of the 90 minutes.

Unfortunately, a lack of efficiency and nerves were the doom of Jesse Marsch’s team.

The turning point of the game came in the 36th minute. Evan Bush made an important save on a Sacha Klejstan penalty kick. The MVP finalist was never the same throughout the game as the save gave such a mental boost to Biello and his men.

Ignacio Piatti then gave a 1-0 lead to Montreal at the 51st minute, beating Robles with a thunderous shot. He might have been snubbed for the 2016 MLS MVP but Piatti made sure to remind the league who he was.

Bradley-Wright Phillips would tie the game at the 77th minute, knowing that the Red Bulls would not to score more goals to try and win the series. Piatti killed any hope when he scores at the 85th minute from a Didier Drogba pass.

That sealed New York’s fate and liberated Montreal to secure its first-ever berth into a MLS conference final. Montreal will face Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference Final for a 100% Canadian final, a first in MLS.

LINEUPS

NY – GK-Luis Robles; D-Chris Duvall, Damien Perrinelle, Aurélien Collin, Sal Zizzo; M-Alex Muyl (Daniel Royer 53’), Felipe (Mike Grella 59’), Dax McCarty, Sacha Kljestan, Gonzalo Verón; F-Bradley Wright-Phillips

Subs not used – GK-Kyle Reynish; D-Aaron Long, Justin Bilyeu; M-Shaun Wright-Phillips, Sean Davis

MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Hassoun Camara, Víctor Cabrera, Laurent Ciman, Ambroise Oyongo; M-Dominic Oduro, Hernán Bernardello (Johan Venegas 88’), Marco Donadel, Patrice Bernier (Calum Mallace 65’), Ignacio Piatti; F-Matteo Mancosu (Didier Drogba 80’)

Subs not used – GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Donny Toia, Wandrille Lefèvre; M-Harry Shipp

GOALS

MTL – Piatti (Oduro) 51’

NY – Wright-Phillips (Royer, Perrinelle) 77’

MTL – Piatti (Drogba, Oduro) 85’

CAUTIONS

NY – Felipe 13’

MTL – Bush 56’

MTL – Ciman 63’

NY – McCarty 74’

NY – Kljestan 89’

MTL – Venegas 90’ + 2'