Montreal Impact deepen Vancouver Whitecaps' woes

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:14 am

Saphir Taider broke a tie with a penalty kick in first-half stoppage time and added two assists as the Montreal Impact defeated the host Vancouver Whitecaps 4-2 Sunday night in an MLS game in which both teams finished with 10 players.

Orji Okwonkwo and Samuel Piette each had a goal and an assist for the Impact, and Romell Quioto also scored. Goalkeeper Clement Diop made four saves.

Theo Bair scored for the Whitecaps, who are tied with San Jose for last place in the Western Conference. A Montreal own goal gave Vancouver its only other score. Whitecaps goalie Thomas Hasal made three saves.

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Vancouver's Lucas Cavallini received a second yellow card for unsporting behavior and was ejected in the 57th minute. After a video review, Montreal's Emanuel Maciel got a straight red card for a serious foul on Vancouver's Cristian Dajome in the 72nd minute, leaving both teams short-handed.

Bair gave the Whitecaps an early lead, scoring in the seventh minute off assists from David Milinkovic and Michael Baldisimo. Bair took a long lead pass, outran two defenders and put a 10-yard shot from right wing into the side netting on the far side.

Okwonkwo tied the score in the 15th minute, putting home the rebound of a Taider shot that went off the left post.

Hasal took down Quioto in the penalty area in the 45th minute, and Taider converted the kick to give the Impact a 2-1 halftime advantage.

Montreal celebrates
Montreal celebrates
Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Piette, playing his 79th career match, scored his first MLS goal in the 51st minute, making a run into the penalty area and scoring on a one-timer from 6 yards out. Taider and Okwonkwo got assists on the play.

Quioto made it 4-1 in the 60th minute on helpers from Piette and Zachary Brault-Guillard.

Montreal defender Rudy Camacho's own goal in the 66th minute capped the scoring.

The victory also kept the Impact in the running for a chance to play in the Canadian Championship. They must defeat the Whitecaps again Wednesday at BC Place.