Hassoun Camara nodded in a goal in the 77th minute as the Montreal Impact ended a two-game losing streak by playing to a 1-1 draw with D.C. United on Wednesday night.

Lamar Neagle scored on a 35th-minute penalty for D.C. (6-8-11), which is unbeaten in five games. Sixth-place United couldn't gain ground on fifth-place Montreal (8-7-10).

The Impact were desperate in the second half trying to avoid being shut out at home for a second game in a row, especially going into a showdown Saturday with rival Toronto FC.

The pressure finally paid off when Marco Donadel recovered his own ball after a Neagle block and lofted a pass to the far post that Camara headed in for his second goal of the season.

The Impact came out with energy and purpose after their listless performance in a 3-0 loss to the Chicago Fire on Saturday, but found themselves down 1-0 at the intermission despite not surrendering a dangerous scoring chance in open play.

Their best chance was in the 11th minute where a series of quick passes in the middle saw Didier Drogba slip the ball to Hernan Bernardello in alone, but goalie Bill Hamid shot out a hand to deflect the ball away.

In the 35th, Drogba was down gripping his left knee when the play went the other way. All looked under control as Patrick Nyarko chased a ball in the Montreal 18-yard box, but he was given a little trip by Donny Toia and sprawled to the ground and referee Robert Sibiga pointed to the spot.

After a Montreal protest in which goalie Evan Bush saw the yellow card, former Impact midfielder Neagle slotted home the goal.

Hamid had more magic in the second half, stretching wide to get a hand on a Johan Venegas header from close range in the 55th and stoning Drogba from point blank range in the 66th.

For a third game in a row Laurent Ciman had a different partner in the central defence. This time it was Camara, as Wandrille Lefevre and Victor Cabrera both stayed on the bench.

With the Impact in the midst of three games in eight days, coach Mauro Biello managed some starters' minutes. Midfielder Venegas took Calum Mallace's spot and made his first appearance since July 17 against New York City and first start since July 13 at Portland. Forward Michael Salazar started ahead of Matteo Mancosu.

D.C. also rested several starters, including the goal scorers from its 2-2 draw Sunday with New York Red Bulls -- Patrick Mullins and Marcelo Sarvas, who began the match on the bench.