MLS: Impact, Sporting City settle for scoreless draw

Montreal, Canada (4E Sports) – In need of a win to stay alive, Montreal Impact put their playoff hopes in jeopardy as it settled for a scoreless draw with Sporting City Kansas Saturday at the rain-soaked Saputo Stadium.

With the draw, Impact’s chances of making it to the next round are slim as they are six points behind the Houston Dynamo for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

“I wasn’t a math major in college, so I’m not sure, but it certainly starts to feel like the points are working against us,” Impact coach Jesse Marsch told reporters after the game.

“There’s nothing to hang our heads about,” Marsch added. “There’s a lot to be proud of, and who knows? Maybe the points are stacked up against us, have caught up with us, but we’re not stopping. We’re about each other.”

Hope still glimmers for Marsch as the Impact have three games remaining, including a crucial outing against the Dynamo Oct. 6 at BBVA Compact Stadium.

While the Impact were anguishing with the draw, Sporting City was more than happy as it helped extend its unbeaten streak to eight games and its Eastern Conference lead to five points over the Chicago Fire and six points ahead of New York Red Bulls.

“This was a huge result. We came to play, and for us to do that on such a quick turnaround, with (Montreal) having the week off, I’m very pleased with the point and the performance of all the guys,” manager Peter Vermes told MLSsoccer.com.

Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen earned his league-leading 14th shutout, making three saves for Sporting City, which had a chance to score in the 12th minute but Graham Zusi’s low shot went wide at the far post.

“These games, they’re more of a battle than anything. Today, we matched the intensity of Montreal, and I think we’re really homing into these last few games,” Zusi said.

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