Jeisson Vargas ends Montreal Impact's scoreless drought, beats Houston Dynamo

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:30 am

Jeisson Vargas scored the lone goal to end Montreal's 426-minute stretch without a tally to lift the Impact to a 1-0 victory over the visiting Houston Dynamo on Saturday night.

Montreal had been blanked in four consecutive matches -- losing each -- before breaking through to win for the first time since May 5.

Goalkeeper Evan Bush was required to make just one save while posting his third shutout of the season for the Impact.

The Dynamo have dropped back-to-back matches and are just 1-3-3 on the road this season.

Houston entered the match tied for the MLS lead with 27 goals, but managed only six shots while being blanked for just the second time this season.

The Dynamo drop to 0-6 all-time in Montreal, having been outscored 16-2 in those matches.

The scoreless drought ended on Vargas' goal in the 44th minute.

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The 20-year-old midfielder from Chile sent a quick, hard shot into the top-left corner of the goal, easily beating Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis. It is Vargas' fourth goal of the campaign.

The Impact wildly celebrated the elusive goal, and then set out to protect the lead.

Bush made his only save of the contest in the 57th minute when he stopped a right-footed shot by Dynamo forward Alberth Elis.

The Impact soon packed in the defense even tighter, and Houston seldom even got into position to make a run.

Elis exited in the 80th minute as the Dynamo looked to get fresher legs into the contest. Elis scored four goals over the previous three games.

Montreal had a solid opportunity in the 20th minute but midfielder Ignacio Piatti's booming right-footed blast caromed off the crossbar.

Houston played without defender Alejandro Fuenmayor, who was serving the final match of a two-game suspension due to a dangerous play foul.