Ignacio Piatti scored two second-half goals, including one from the penalty spot, as the Montreal Impact defeated rivals Toronto FC 2-0 on Sunday afternoon to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Montreal still has a chance of making the Major League Soccer postseason after the Columbus Crew lost 2-1 to Orlando City SC earlier Sunday.
Elsewhere in the league, D.C. United clinched a playoff berth with a 3-1 win over New York City FC.
Montreal Impact midfielder Saphir Taider and Toronto FC forward Auro defends during the first half at Stade Saputo in Montreal on Oct. 21, 2018.Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
The Impact (14-15-4) are seventh in the Eastern Conference with 46 points, two points behind Columbus (13-11-9) with one game remaining for both teams.
Rémi Garde’s men need to defeat the New England Revolution in the season finale next Sunday while Columbus would have to tie or lose at home to Minnesota United FC for the Impact to make the playoffs.
Toronto (9-18-6), already eliminated, came close to playing spoiler against their league’s biggest rival until Piatti’s spot kick in the 74th minute.
Substitute Eriq Zavaleta tugged at Piatti’s shirt and pulled him down in the box. There was no immediate penalty call on the play. After video review, referee Baldomero Toledo pointed to the spot and Piatti made no mistake for his team-leading 15th goal of the year.
Piatti nearly made it 2-0 for Montreal five minutes later with a glorious chance on a breakaway, but the Argentine waited too long before taking a shot, and goalie Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono took away his shooting angle.
Toronto came close to equalizing in the 86th, which would have eliminated Montreal from playoff contention, but Evan Bush got a finger on Lucas Janson’s dipping shot from distance.
Piatti eventually did make it 2-0 in the 89th minute after miscommunication in the backfield between Bono and defender Chris Mavinga gave Piatti a wide open net.
The 19,684 in attendance at Saputo Stadium celebrated a goal by Rod Fanni in the 36th minute, but it was called back after a video review found forward Quincy Amarikwa was in an offside position.