MONTREAL – Didier Drogba scored twice inside a minute early in the second half as the Montreal Impact defeated Toronto FC 2-1 in the MLS regular season finale on Sunday night to secure a home playoff date.
The victory moved the Impact (15-13-6) into third place in the Eastern Conference while TFC (15-15-4) fell to sixth place, so Montreal will be the host when the teams meet again in a single-game knockout playoff on either Wednesday or Thursday.
The winner of that game advances to the semifinals.
A sellout crowd of 20,801 at Saputo Stadium, including a vocal group from Toronto, saw the Impact post a comeback victory and move past rival TFC in a game with action and chances at both ends.
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Toronto emerged with a well deserved lead at the intermission, creating most of the first half chances and containing Drogba in their own end.
Montreal keeper Evan Bush shot up his right hand to tip a Robbie Findley header over the bar in the 31st minute, just after Sebastian Gionvinco shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area.
A quick counterattack off a Nigel Reo-Coker turnover at the halfway line saw the ball played wide left to Giovinco, who put a cross just over Laurent Ciman for Altidore to head in for his 11th goal of the season in the 45th minute. It was Altidore’s third goal in as many games against Montreal this season.
The tables turned in the second half. After Chris Konopka stopped Ignacio Piatti from point blank, the Argentine sent a cross in front that Drogba shovelled in with his left foot. Off a corner kick less than a minute later, Marco Donadel’s low pass was redirected inside the far post by Drogba.
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It was the 37-year-old Ivorian’s 11th goal in as many MLS games since joining the team in the summer.
Moments later, Piatti hit the crossbar, but Toronto’s Michael Bradley did the same with the equalizer on his boot in the 74th.
TFC beat Montreal in Toronto in both of their previous meetings this season.
Montreal had Ciman back from a suspension to replace Wandrille Lefevre in the central defence.
TFC made three changes to the starting 11 that lost 2-0 to Columbus last week, inserting goalie Chris Konopka, defender Jonathan Osorio and forward Altidore and taking out Joe Bendik, Marky Delgado and Collen Warner.
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