Impact beat Union to solidify playoff spot

Impact beat Union to solidify playoff spot

Published Oct. 19, 2013 11:03 p.m. ET

Marco Di Vaio scored his 20th goal of the season, defender Karl Ouimette headed in his first career goal and the Montreal Impact took a big step toward making the MLS playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.

The Impact (14-12-7), who ended a six-game winless run, are solidly in playoff position going into their final regular-season game in Toronto.

Fabinho scored in the first half for Philadelphia (12-11-10), which began the day in a three-way tie with Montreal and Chicago for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

''This was a playoff game without the playoffs,'' Philadelphia coach John Hackworth said. ''Both of us had to win. We did a good job in the first half, but we couldn't finish it off.''

ADVERTISEMENT

Di Vaio became the 11th player in MLS history to score 20 goals in a season.

The 21-year-old Ouimette, an Impact academy product from Repentigny, headed in the winner in the 84th minute.

''It felt magical,'' Ouimette said. ''There are no words. I put it in and everyone was jumping on me.''

share