Pro Sports

Piatti scores twice, Impact beat Fire 3-0

Posted August 16, 2017 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Chicago Fire midfielder Djordje Mihailovic trips over Montreal Impact defender Victor Cabrera during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

MONTREAL (AP) - Ignacio Piatti scored twice and the Montreal Impact beat the Chicago Fire 3-0 on Wednesday night for their first three-game winning streak of the Major league Soccer season.

Matteo Mancosu added another from the penalty spot to help Montreal (9-8-6) edge closer to a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The seventh-place Impact are two points away from the fifth-place Columbus Crew with two games in hand.

Montreal scored all three goals in the first half, two in a minute span.

Chicago (12-7-5) has lost four of its last five games.

Many of the 19,894 in attendance at Saputo Stadium came dressed in Germany and Bayern Munich jerseys, supporting Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Piatti's first goal was a bit of a fluke. The Argentine blocked a rushed clearance from defender Christian Dean. The ball dropped perfectly in the box for Piatti, who flicked it over goalkeeper Matt Lampson in the sixth minute.

Dean entered the game less than a minute earlier as a substitute, replacing the injured Joao Meira. It was his first action for the Fire after being acquired two weeks ago in a trade with Vancouver.

Piatti's second came in the 38th minute after he found himself 25 yards away from goal surrounded by three Chicago players. Instead of waiting for a teammate, Piatti curled a shot into the bottom right corner of the net for his 12th of the season.

The goal came exactly a minute after Mancosu scored. The striker earned the spot kick after finding himself alone on goal following a through ball from Piatti. Mancosu tried to go around Lampson but the goalkeeper tripped him in the box. The Italian fired a hard shot in the bottom left corner.

Montreal Impact's Blerim Dzemaili, left, congratulates Ignacio Piatti on his second goal of the night against the Chicago Fire, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Chicago Fire defender Patrick Doody falls over Montreal Impact forward Dominic Oduro during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Chicago Fire defender Johan Kappelhof tries to break through between Montreal Impact defender Daniel Lovitz, left, and midfielder Samuel Piette during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Montreal Impact midfielder Ignacio Piatti celebrates his second goal of the night against the Chicago Fire, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger plays the ball away from Montreal Impact midfielder Samuel Piette during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers MLS Pro Sports Soccer Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.