Ignacio Piatti and Alejandro Silva scored in the second half as the Montreal Impact extended their winning streak to three games with a 2-0 victory that ended Sporting Kansas City’s nine-game unbeaten run.
The Impact (7-11), coming off back-to-back wins over Orlando, handed Western Conference-leading Sporting (9-3-5) a first defeat since April 28. Kansas City’s unbeaten run included two wins in U.S. Open Cup play.
It was Montreal’s fourth win in five games, with clean sheets in all four wins.
READ MORE: Montreal Impact tops Lions 2-0 in Orlando
Piatti scored his ninth goal of the season and his fourth in the last three matches in the 54th minute while Uruguayan midfielder Silva got his first MLS goal from the penalty spot in the 70th.
Get breaking National news
The Impact looked to have wasted a glorious chance as Saphir Taider and Matteo Mancosu couldn’t control a loose ball in front of the Kansas City net, but Silva managed to slip it to the onrushing Piatti for a bullet shot from the edge of the penalty area that went off the crossbar and landed just over the line.
Daniel Lovitz jumped on a loose ball in the area and looked likely to score when Ike Opara stuck out a foot to trip the Impact fullback. Piatti normally takes penalties, but it was Silva who stepped up to the spot and scored on a slow, rolling shot.
READ MORE: Vargas finally ends Impact’s scoring drought as Montreal tops Dynamo 1-0
The Impact lost holding midfielder Samuel Piette to an apparent foot injury in the 38th minute after a tackle from Yohan Croizet. He tried to walk it off but moments later was substituted by another Canadian, Shamit Shome.
It was an uneventful first half with Piatti getting off a good shot from the edge of the 18-yard box in the ninth minute that was right at goalie Tom Melia. Opara came close in the 29th when his header from a Graham Zusi corner kick went wide and Croizet shot just over the bar from distance in the 37th.
Water breaks were called to keep players hydrated in oppressive humidity.
Comments