Did the Montreal Impact just play a postseason game before the postseason?
The team’s mentality in its 1-0 win at Orlando on Sunday at least suggested that the Bleu-blanc-noir had already embarked on the path leading to MLS Cup. The Impact put in a splendid performance at the back and made good use of its chances up front – and, all the while, counted on a goalkeeper able to make the key saves; Evan Bush kept his 18th MLS clean sheet that afternoon, a new club record.
That was a week when Montreal progressed and progressed with every action. Not only has the team recovered defensively, but it has also gotten its attacking efficiency back.
“It wasn’t easy, but the tenacity that we showed in the game at New York Red Bulls, then in the win against San Jose and [on Sunday afternoon], gives us the required mental strength to get those important wins,” team captain Patrice Bernier said after the game. “The last time we won 1-0 was against Toronto [on August 27], and playoff games are like that. This state of mind pushes you further.”
Added Dominic Oduro: “Looking at the results from the other games on Saturday, and the spot that we were in, and the fact that Orlando needed to win, this was really critical. We showed commitment. It wasn’t pretty. But sometimes, it doesn’t have to be pretty. You just have to get the three points and move on.”
Previous seasons have taught us that, once the postseason is underway, road results become more and more crucial. And every way of achieving those results is valid, as the Portland Timbers’ run to MLS Cup 2015 proved: the six goals they scored in three road games – two wins and a tie – clearly tipped the scales in their favour.
If the Bleu-blanc-noir proved anything away from home this season, it’s that it can be efficient. Never had the team picked up more road points (19). With nine goals, Nacho Piatti is joint-top scorer on the road in MLS, tied with Bradley Wright-Phillips and David Villa. And Oduro, who tallied the game-winner in Orlando, has scored four goals and provided five assists in 15 away games.
“We had to stick together on the road, and we knew that from the very first minute – even from yesterday, when we came here to train,” said Kyle Fisher. “It was going to take everybody. Everyone had to stick together. We can count on each other, lift each other up when things get tough or shaky.”
