Both the Montreal Impact and the New York Red Bulls were hungry for their first win of the season Saturday but both were denied in their quest, as the teams competed in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Over 24,000 mostly-blue clad fans were treated to an offence-heavy game Saturday at the Olympic Stadium as the Impact and New York Red Bulls went end-to-end for 90 minutes.
Andres Romero opened the scoring for the Impact in the fifth minute after getting behind the Red Bulls back line on a Felipe Martins pass to put the ball behind NYRB keeper Luis Robles.
The Red Bulls showed off some blazing foot speed to even things up, as Lloyd Sam outraced an Impact defender to issue a cross to a streaking Jonathan Steele who had enough of a lead on Impact rookie Eric Miler to tap the ball home.
The Red Bulls took advantage of a bad pass in the midfield by Marco Di Vaio to take the lead as Steele quickly fed a streaking Péguy Luyindula who made no mistake from in close, easily getting the ball by Troy Perkins to give the visitors a 2-1 lead in the 34th minute.
The Red Bulls had a chance to extend their lead as Luyindula was awarded a penalty shot after being fouled in the box by Impact defender Matteo Ferrari. However the shot hit the goalpost and the rebound bounced harmlessly away.
The Impact drew the game back to 2-2 as Justin Mapp doubled back from the corner and left-footed a cross into a seam in the New York Red Bulls defence, allowing Felipe to score with a powerful header the 59th minute.
The Impact fielded a starting lineup of Perkins, Pearce, Camara, Ferrari, Miller, Warner, Bernardello; Romero Felipe Mapp and Di Vaio while Bernier, Smith and Gonzales came in as late game replacements. The Impact are now 0-3-2.
