The game in 100 words (or less): The New York Red Bulls, despite a rash of injuries that left them extremely light in central midfield and the center of defense, have reached second place in the Eastern Conference (for the time being) with a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Impact, with many thanks to Bradley Wright-Phillips’ brace, as well as a goal and two assists from Sean Davis, a backup midfielder thrust into action in recent weeks. The two-goal outing pushed Wright-Phillips past Juan Pablo Angel to become the Red Bulls’ all-time leading goalscorer in MLS play (59). By the game’s final whistle, the Red Bulls had lost another defender, Aurelien Collin, the fourth in a month, to injury. The victory puts the Red Bulls level with Toronto FC on 36 points, ahead on goal differential, having played two more games than TFC. New York City FC, who currently lead the East by a single point, are in action against Columbus Crew SC on Saturday. The Impact remain stuck on 33 points, where the Red Bulls also began the night.
[ MORE: Previewing the rest of the MLS weekend ]
Three Four moments that mattered
21' — Piatti finishes a slick counter with ease — Matteo Mancosu did most of the hard part, but Piatti still had to slot the ball home to make it 1-0.
Counters don't get much better. #NYvMTL https://t.co/9HT6rOtJqg
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 13, 2016
22' — Kljestan feeds BWP for 1-1 — Perhaps no one in MLS reads the game better than Sacha Kljestan. He sees everything, and can make every pass. Basket and the foul for BWP.
Didn't take long.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 13, 2016
BWP doing BWP things. #NYvMTL https://t.co/36igUdhqIT
41' — BWP’s glancing header makes it 2-1 — Right place, right time for BWP, and one heck of a header to give the Red Bulls the lead.
The new @NewYorkRedBulls all-time leading scorer. #NYvMTL https://t.co/WUwn01i8a3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 13, 2016
46' — Grella flashes some skill to set up 3-1 — If you don’t watch the Red Bulls every week, I can assure you Mike Grella does this every week.
You make your own luck. #NYvMTL https://t.co/ftkwaMHU7z
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 14, 2016
[ FOLLOW: All of PST’s MLS coverage | Standings | Stats | Schedule ]
Man of the match: Sean Davis
Goalscorers: Piatti (21'), Wright-Phillips (22', 41'), Davis (46')