D.C. United entered their encounter with the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo on Saturday afternoon badly needing a result. Winless in their previous four matches, United had watched what was once a double-digit lead atop the Eastern Conference dissipate and now they were in 4th place.
They faced the unenviable task of containing former Chelsea legend Didier Drogba — perhaps the hottest striker in MLS at the moment — and corralling an Impact side unbeaten in five matches.
Drogba was a terror from the start, netting a brace and handing United their fourth loss in five games. But it was the way Montreal got their scoring chances that seemed to frustrate United head coach Ben Olsen more than anything.
Drogba’s first strike of the afternoon came just five minutes in, a sensational, driven free kick from 25 yards out that eluded a fully outstretched Bill Hamid. A world-class effort for sure, but a chance handed to the Impact via a D.C. handball just outside the box.
“[That] leads to a goal, and now we’re chasing,” Olsen told the media in his post-game remarks.
Another United error led to Drogba’s second. Under duress, D.C. midfielder Markus Halsti knocked a loose ball into his own end, hitting Drogba in stride. Drogba made no mistake, streaking in on goal, using a quick move to throw off his defender and deftly chipping United ‘keeper Hamid to complete his brace.
“We [lose] the ball, which leads to a breakaway against a great forward, and now it’s 2-0 -- and then we chase," Olsen said. "The game plan goes out the window. They have a striker who’s pretty good. [We] aren’t going to get let off the hook for little mistakes anymore.”
Responding to a poor first half, Olsen did his best to change the rhythm, inserting Conor Doyle for Alvaro Saborio. Jairo Arrieta and Michael Farfan were added to the mix later, but none of the added ingredients were able to change the end result.
"We’re at a point now where you gotta do the job,” said Olsen. "And there are some other guys that can bring some life, or if I see something different that the game is going to need, I gotta start pulling those cards. Because what we’re doing isn’t working -- and when I say 'what we’re doing,' it’s them and me as a group."
Though virtually assured of a playoff spot, United remain in fourth place, and they’ll need to reverse course in order to avoid taking part in a dreaded play-in game. Both the Impact and Toronto FC are suddenly nipping at United’s heels in the standings.
"We obviously need to continue to do a little soul-searching and try and find a way out,” Olsen said. "We try and get into the playoffs, and then when and if we do, it’s a reset. That’s the plan right now."
