Montreal Impact striker Jack McInerney gave fans a taste of the post-Marco Di Vaio Impact era as he scored the winning goal against a tough San Jose Earthquake club in a 2-0 home victory Saturday night at Saputo Stadium.
Jack Mac, hadn't scored since June 29 but now leads the club in goals with eight goals.
McInerney and Dilly Duka scored in the final 10 minutes to give the Montreal Impact a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night.
The 38-year-old Di Vaio played a part on both goals.
The Impact (6-17-6) are last in the Eastern Conference and were officially eliminated from the playoffs after victories from Columbus and New York.
The Impact have only two home games remaining, with four games on the road. The team still has some hopes of advancing in the CONCACAF Champions League.
But Montreal saved its best for the end, going 3-0-1 in its last four league home games.
San Jose (6-12-10), is eighth in the west and also in grave danger of missing the post-season.
McInerney got his eighth of the season and his first since June 29 in the 81st minute to open the scoring.
The ball went to Marco Di Vaio from a corner kick and the veteran striker’s curling shot needed a diving save from Jon Busch. McInerney was standing on the doorstep and the rebound went off his body and into the net.
In the 88th, Di Vaio fed Duka near the San Jose area. He cut inside and put a shot between two defenders in off the far post for his third of the season.
The win came three days after a rousing 1-0 win at home over New York in CONCACAF Champions League play.
The Impact were on full attack in the first half, outshooting San Jose 10-3. Ignacio Piatti and Duka shot over the bar early on and McInerney just missed on a bicycle kick after a lob from Andres Romero.
The closest call came in the 38th minute when Piatti tried a long shot that forced Jon Busch into a desperate leap to tip over the bar.
Piatti, who has four goals in six league games since joining the Impact, left in the 57th minute favouring his left knee and was replaced by Di Vaio.
His absence was noticed immediately as Montreal attacks were repeatedly broken up without the Argentine’s clever passes and dribbling.
The second half saw San Jose get chances, with Chris Wondolowski stopped from close rage early and Atiba Harris heading just wide in the 70th.
Notes: Playing a third game in eight days, the Impact gave Troy Perkins the start (and the captain’s armband) in goal ahead of Evan Bush. Academy product Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare got a start at left back. Left back Krzysztof Krol sat out a suspension from a red card shown in last week’s 2-1 loss at New England.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
