The game in 100 words (or less): Saturday’s away clash with FC Dallas was always going to be a tough on for the undefeated and high-flying Montreal Impact — FCD’s pace, directness and midfield solidity are all on another level from anything L’Impact had seen in 2016 — and it proved to be so, to the tune of a 1-0 FCD victory at Toyota Stadium. Mauro Diaz scored the winner, a well-struck, dipping free kick from 21 yards out in the 79th minute, and Maximiliano Urruti added the late insurance goal for a more-comfortable-than-reality final score. Not even the 2016 debut of Didier Drogba could help Montreal crack the code of the FCD defense (just six shots on the night, two on target). Though they will meet just once in the regular season, don’t be at all surprised if we see FCD-Impact round two in December.
[ MORE:Previewing the rest of MLS Week 3 ]
Three moments that mattered
6' — Bush out of goal, Ciman clears Urruti’s shot off the line — Evan Bush rushed off his line with hair on fire, didn’t win the ball and found himself in extremely uncertain circumstances with Urruti getting on the ball along the end line. Fortunately for Bush, reigning MLS Defender of the Year Laurent Ciman was covering the near post and headed the ball off the line.
79' — Diaz gets it up, down over the wall for 1-0 — Diaz is magical. We knew this already, but it’s still nice to be reminded every now and then, isn’t it?
Diaz does it. 1-0 @FCDallas. #DALvMTL https://t.co/kW73n30kT0
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 20, 2016
87' — Urruti lifts a long ball over Bush for 2-0 — From goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, to the head of Tesho Akindele, to the right boot of Urruti … unbelievably simple stuff from FCD.
Route 1 to an #ATTGotW nomination? Urruti puts @FCDallas up 2-0. #DALvMTL https://t.co/faujahFmoJ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 20, 2016
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Man of the match: Mauro Diaz
Goalscorers: Diaz (79'), Urruti (87')