Ignacio Piatti scores twice as Impact storm back to draw Crew 4-4

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ignacio Piatti scored twice as the Montreal Impact stormed back for a 4-4 draw with the Columbus Crew on Saturday night.

Dominic Oduro found the back of the net in stoppage time for the Impact (4-3-3) to tie the game. Didier Drogba had a glancing header off Ambroise Oyongo’s long throw in and Oduro was left open at the far post for an easy finish.

Oduro did the same thing against New York City FC 10 days ago when he tied the game in stoppage time to help Montreal escape New York with a 1-1 draw. The Impact have three draws and a loss in their last four games.

“This was a bizarre game, but we showed a lot of character,coming back from a 4-1 deficit on the road,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We’re heading back home with an excellent point. Defensively, we have to address certain things, and we have to improve our offensive animation, but I’m glad that we showed that we can score at any time.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This was a bizarre game, but we showed a lot of character,coming back from a 4-1 deficit on the road," said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. "We're heading back home with an excellent point. Defensively, we have to address certain things, and we have to improve our offensive animation, but I'm glad that we showed that we can score at any time."

Drogba scored on a penalty in the 57th minute to start Montreal’s comeback from down three goals. Drogba was starting his fourth-straight game and his status for Saturday was in doubt after
he hurt his left leg at practice on Wednesday.

Kei Kamara opened the scoring in the 16th minute for the Crew (2-4-3) after heading home Justin Meram’s cross. Piatti tied it at 1-1 in the 26th minute on a curled shot, but Kamara gave Columbus a 2-1 lead in first-half stoppage time. Kamara ran past the Impact defence to win Michael Parkhurst’s long ball, pulling out goalkeeper Evan Bush, and Kamara touched the ball into the open net.

Federico Higuain made it 3-1 in the 48th by controlling a loose ball in the 6-yard box and easing a ball into the back of the net.

Higuain scored his second goal in five minutes when he netted a penalty kick to put Columbus up 4-1.

“Attacking players did their job today, and we have to tip our hat to them,” said Montreal’s Laurent Ciman. “Defensively, we have to show our fans that tonight was a mistake. We didn’t execute well and weren’t focused enough tonight. We can’t be satisfied.”

*With files from The Associated Press