MONTREAL — Didier Drogba scored twice in the opening 12 minutes and the Montreal Impact stretched its club record unbeaten run to six games with a 2-0 victory over D.C. United on Saturday.
A sellout crowd of 20,801 saw the Impact (12-11-6) complete a sweep of a three-game homestand and move to three points behind D.C. for fourth place in the MLS Eastern Conference, with two games in hand.
D.C. (13-12-6) are winless in six games.
Drogba, a mid-season acquisition who has seven goals in six MLS games, took a free kick after a hand ball by Taylor Kemp and drilled it over the defensive wall and into the top corner in the fourth minute.
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The former Chelsea striker saved his best for the 12th minute, when he picked off a back pass, twisted defender Steve Birnbaum inside out with a deke and fired in his seventh of the season.
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After the intermission, Birnbaum stepped on the back of Drogba’s foot, sending him the ground in pain and drawing a caution. Moments later, Drogba took revenge by shouldering Birnbaum to the grass and got a yellow card of his own.
Birnbaum will sit out D.C.’s next game due to yellow card accumulation, as will defender Conor Doyle.
Drogba was substituted in injury time for rookie Romario Williams.
It was Montreal’s first win in three games against D.C. this season. In their last meeting on Aug. 8, the Impact outshot them 25-1 but lost 1-0.
They had the bulk of the chances again, including a Johan Venegas chip shot that just cleared the bar and an attempt from 15 yards by Drogba that forced a diving save from Bill Hamid in the 85th minute.
Montreal captain Patrice Bernier, recently returned from a heel injury, made his first start since June 27.
The Impact were without defender Laurent Ciman and midfielder Andres Romero due to suspensions, while D.C. midfielder Perry Kitchen also sat out due to yellow card accumulation.
Montreal now has four consecutive games on the road, starting next Saturday at Orlando. Midfielder Justin Mapp (toe) may be able to return for that game. D.C. play host to New York City on Friday night.
