COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Montreal Impact fell to the Columbus Crew SC 3-1 in extra time on Sunday at MAPFRE Stadium, ending its playoff run with a 4-3 aggregate score.
The home side found an early goal in the 4th minute when forward Kei Kamara headed one past goalkeeper Evan Bush. After Federico Higuain played a nice ball over the defence, defender Waylon Francis hit Kamara with a cross near the corner of the six yard box.
IMFC tied it up in the 40th minute when Dilly Duka pounced on a loose ball in the six yard box after Laurent Ciman played it towards goal following a corner kick.
The Crew had a golden chance to take the lead in the 67th minute when the referee pointed to the penalty spot, but IMFC goalkeeper Evan Bush made the stop on the Crew’s 22-goal man Kamara.
Bush made another huge save on point blank shot by Jack McInerney in the 77th minute, but Ethan Finlay netted the rebound from the door step to take the lead and force extra time.
Kamara wouldn’t be denied in extra time, heading his second of the night in the second half of extra time, converting a Cedrick corner to the far post in the 111th minute.
"They scored in the final 10 minutes and won the game," said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. "At the same time, I think we had some chances to find that important goal. We pushed until the end and the group gave everything they had, but unfortunately, it ended the way it did."
IMFC pressured in the game’s final minutes, including a Nacho break all alone on goal, but he sailed his shot over the goal.
Bush had another stellar showing in this one, making a couple of huge back-to-back saves in the first half, first on a long distance Justin Meram drive before blocking Ethan Finlay’s rebound from point blank range from the seat of his pants.
Kamara came close to hitting another home with a header early, crashing the crossbar with his attempt in the 12th minute.
Piatti tried one from the top of the box in the 30th minute, but his attempt curled away from the top corner.
The Crew SC will go on to face the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference Championship series.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Donny Toia, Laurent Ciman, Victor Cabrera, Ambroise Oyongo (Johan Venegas 85’); M-Calum Mallace, Marco Donadel, Dilly Duka (Hassoun Camara 65’), Ignacio Piatti, Patrice Bernier (Nigel Reo-Coker 74’); F-Didier Drogba
Subs not used: GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Wandrille Lefèvre; M-Kyle Bekker; F-Dominic Oduro
CLB – GK-Steve Clark; D-Gaston Sauro, Harrison Afful, Michael Parkhurst, Waylon Francis; M-Ethan Finlay, Federico Higuain, Justin Meram (Cedrick 77’, Tyson Wahl 115’), Tony Tchani (Jack McInerney 74’), Will Trapp; F-Kei Kamara
Subs not used: GK-Brad Stuver; M-Kevan George, Hector Jimenez; F-Aaron Schoenfeld
GOALS
CLB – Kamara (Francis, Higuain) 4’
MTL – Duka (Cabrera, Ciman) 40’
CLB – Finlay 77’
CLB – Kamara (Cedrick) 111’
CAUTIONS
CLB – Sauro 30’
MTL – Donadel 85’
MTL – Camara 90+5’
MTL – Reo-Coker 104’
