Montreal beat D.C. United at their own game for the first MLS playoffs upset
It took Ignacio Piatti just 16 to seconds to rifle off a shot to open the Montreal Impact's playoffs campaign on a quick counterattack. That particular attempt went straight to D.C. United's Bill Hamid, but the goalkeeper was in for a busy and unpleasant evening.
That's because Montreal beat D.C. at their own game on Thursday night, using United's high press against them and dominating the midfield. As United pushed their central midfielders and fullbacks up the field, Montreal punished them, and for the New York Red Bulls, who will face Montreal next, it is perhaps a blueprint of what not to do. The Impact stunned United in D.C. with a 4-2 win that the score line makes seem closer than it was.
Montreal were the most dangerous on the counter, with the trio of Piatti, Dominic Oduro and Matteo Mancosu acting like a three-man battering ram up the pitch all night. They ran the D.C. defense ragged and Piatti again put on a dazzling performance, showing why he is one of the most influential Designated Players in the league.
Montreal's counterattack, with its quick interplay, was so effective that the midfield triangle of Patrice Bernier, Marco Donadel and Hernan Bernardello was free to focus on disrupting the efforts of D.C. United's midfield. Luciano Acosta, United's playmaker in the midfield, was unable to orchestrate much in the attack as Montreal did well to neutralize him.
That was the defensive key for Montreal and how the Impact were able to boss around a team in such fine form as United have been. They focused on controlling the midfield, and the game evolved from there.
The Impact imposed themselves immediately. As early as Piatti's 16-second effort or a minute later with Mancosu flicking a ball behind looking for Piatti, it was clear the Impact were looking to move quickly and catch United flat-footed. They did again and again, scoring four goals, including this excellent one:
Mancosu! 2-0 Montreal! pic.twitter.com/uyhDyNM5w7
— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) October 28, 2016
This was supposed to be D.C.'s game to win — they were at home and arriving into the playoffs in fine form. They went unbeaten in seven matches up until last weekend, when coach Ben Olsen rested nearly all of United's starters in the season's final match. Their previous four matches had been wins and peaking at the right time is often how MLS Cups are won.
But United's defense was in shambles on Thursday, looking nervous from the start, perhaps by the weight of the stakes, and unprepared for Montreal's aggressive start. Then they looked downright shell-shocked after conceding first — United are a team that hasn't had to try to come back much lately, but they've gone just 1-8-6 this year when conceding first.
Patrick Mullins, who had been so instrumental in turning around D.C. United's fortunes this season, was unable to make an impact on Thursday. It was the arrival of Mullins that allowed coach Ben Olsen to switch the team to an attacking 4-1-4-1 that allowed them to control the pace of games. But he was cut off from service in the midfield and unable to influence the game. He had precious few touches on the ball, and even fewer inside the 18-yard box, which is a recipe for not scoring any goals.
In the 57th minute, Mullins had his best chance. He got in behind the Impact back line, turned and fired a strike from inside the box — but his shot was wildly off target with his turn not sharp enough. Montreal would punish that missed chance less than a minute later.
Mancosu! 3-0 Montreal! pic.twitter.com/hqD77cnEwz
— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) October 28, 2016
For all the talk of D.C. peaking at the right time, and there was plenty of reason to believe it, the Impact came into Thursday's must-win peaking themselves. Just like D.C., coach Mauro Biello benched his starters over the weekend for Decision Day and Montreal lost, but going into it, Montreal were on a four-game winning streak of their own. Much of that has had to do with Piatti and Mancosu's connection that was on full display Thursday.
The United back line was slow to react, Rob Vincent was often overrun in the midfield and Montreal had their way on the day. United pulled back two goals late and it may make the result more palatable on paper, but Montreal really just dismantled them.
With that, we have our first upset of the MLS Cup playoffs. United were supposed to win but Montreal have proven they belong. Now the question is how far Piatti & Co. can go.
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