Author: Dan Gaichas, Windy City Soccer
Back at Monday’s teleconference with the media, Fire head coach Frank Yallop said that if Didier Drogba was in the team, the Fire would have to make sure that they were on top of him and know his movement. They didn’t do that on Saturday night.
Drogba scored a hat trick as the Impact defeated the Fire, 4-3, at Stade Saputo. The Fire are now four points out of a playoff spot with the Impact owning three matches in hand. The Fire’s winless streak on the road in all competitions is now at 23 matches (0-17-6). They also maintain a 0% record at Stade Saputo.
The Fire allowed the first goal in Montreal Impact history back in 2012. Three and a half years later, they concede Drogba’s first goal as a member of the Montreal Impact as he collected a Nigel Reo-Coker cross beating Eric Gehrig and scoring from five yards out in the 27th minute.
The Fire pulled level nine minutes later after Harry Shipp was tripped in the area by Maxim Tissot and Jeff Larentowicz converted the spot kick.
The Impact went back ahead in the 42nd minute after Marco Donadel’s corner was headed home by Wandrille Lefevre after Sean Johnson could not get to the corner in time. That lead would last just two minutes though as Gilberto scored his first for the Fire after collecting a cross from Kennedy Igboananike.
The Fire then took the lead in the 59th minute after Igboananike scored his seventh of the season tying him with the club lead with the absent David Accam. The Fire’s lead would last just two minutes as well as the Fire were caught unaware of a quick restart after a foul and Ignacio Piatti would find Drogba to make it 3-3.
Drogba would then complete his hat trick and give Montreal the lead for good four minutes later. After Sean Johnson made an initial save on Drogba, he lost his balance trying to get back up while Drogba scored on his own rebound.
The Fire continue on the road on Friday against New York Red Bulls at 6pm on UniMas with they playoff hopes fading and what promises to be unpleasantness on social media the next few days.
SCORING SUMMARY:
MTL-Didier Drogba (Reo-Coker) 27’
CHI-Jeff Larentowicz (penalty kick) 36’
MTL-Wandrille Lefevre (Donadel) 42’
CHI-Gilberto (Igboananike) 44’
CHI-Kennedy Igboananike (Shipp) 59’
MTL-Didier Drogba (Piatti) 61’
MTL-Didier Drogba (unassisted) 65’
BOOKING SUMMARY:
MTL-Maxim Tissot (caution, reckless foul) 24’
CHI-Gilberto (caution, tactical foul) 54’
MTL-Evan Bush (caution, time wasting) 86’
MONTREAL IMPACT (4-2-3-1): #1-Evan Bush; #14-Nigel Reo-Coker, #55-Wandrille Lefevre, #25-Donny Toia, #51-Maxim Tissot; #16-Calum Mallace, #33-Marco Donadel; #21-Justin Mapp (#7-Dominic Oduro 87’), #10-Ignacio Piatti (#5-Dilly Duka 70’), #15-Andres Romero (#29-Eric Alexander 75’); #11-Didier Drogba
Subs not used: #22-Eric Kronberg, #6-Hassoun Camara, #28-Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, #24-Anthony Jackson-Hamel
CHICAGO FIRE (4-4-2): #25-Sean Johnson; #5-Lovel Palmer, #6-Eric Gehrig, #20-Jeff Larentowicz (C), #16-Greg Cochrane; #14-Patrick Nyarko (#7-Jason Johnson 83’), #30-Razvan Cocis (#8-Matt Watson 75’), #26-Michael Stephens, #19-Harry Shipp; #77-Kennedy Igboananike, #29-Gilberto (#9-Mike Magee 75’)
Subs not used: #18-Jon Busch, #24-Ty Harden, #22-Patrick Doody, #21-Chris Ritter
TOTAL SHOTS: MTL 21-12 CHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: MTL 11-7 CHI
FOULS: MTL 11-11 CHI
OFFSIDES: MTL 4-1 CHI
CORNER KICKS: MTL 10-8 CHI
SAVES: MTL 4-7 CHI
Referee: Silviu Pestrescu
Referee’s Assistants: Claudio Badea, Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho
4th Official: Robert Sibiga
Attendance: 20,801
Man of the Match: Didier Drogba (MTL)
Chicago Fire
