On Oct. 16, Drogba did not show up to a match against Toronto FC, reportedly after he learned he would not be in the starting lineup for the third game in a row.
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Now Montreal go into the second leg of their MLS Eastern Conference semi-final clash with the New York Red Bulls with a somewhat surprising 1-0 lead, and having avoided giving up an away goal will be equally huge, especially if they can score a goal of their own on the road.
Drogba, who missed the last three games, was to take warmup on Saturday to see if his stiff back was strong enough to play.
The Impact upset D.C. United in the knockout round and now have a tough task in front of them facing the number one seed New York Red Bulls. I congratulate my players for what is perhaps their best performance of the year.
SEATTLE-Goalkeeper Stefan Frei kept punchless Seattle Sounders FC alive into the 88th minute of Thursday night’s Western Conference knockout round match at CenturyLink Field, and substitute Nelson Valdez snuck home a header to snatch a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City and a berth in the semifinals against Supporters’ Shield winners FC Dallas.
Looking at this match-up I have to go with the Red Bulls beating this Impact team. “I’ll take two days to recuperate well and be ready for Sunday”.
“His ability, his runs, his timing.it’s a guy that brings experience to our team and he’s really found a rhythm”, Biello said.
Annoyed at the back and possibly unhappy to have been left end of the season, Drogba was however present at RFK Stadium to encourage his teammates. The Italy worldwide came through when he was needed most and scored the game’s lone goal in the 61′ minute.
NY tried their best to get back into the game but were unable to find their finishing potential. “We came out expecting to win the game at home, because of how we were playing”, winger Patrick Nyarko told B&RU in the locker room. Ciman and his fellow defenders had the hard task of dealing with one of the most unsafe offences in the MLS spearheaded by the physical Patrick Mullins. If the Impact keep on playing as they did versus DC, we can make it far in the playoffs. From a phenomenal 11 goals in as many appearances, his regular season tally has slumped to 10 goals in 22. The Impact have never won at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., where the second leg is to be played next week. Against D.C., it was nearly a ideal game.
The Impact will be without Didier Drogba, who will not travel to be with the team after some drama between him and management over his willingness to accept a reserve role a few weeks ago.
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Kickoff for next week’s game was to be determined after this Sunday’s games are completed.
