MONTREAL - Didier Drogba, who had not scored since May 28, broke out with a hat trick to lead the Montreal Impact to a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.
The Ivorian striker, who returned last week after missing three games with a thigh injury, quieted any critics who thought his 38-year-old body may be nearing it's best-before date for soccer with a dominant effort at both ends of the field.
Ignacio Piatti returned from sitting out a one-game suspension to score his 12th goal of the season and pick up two assists. It was Piatti's eight goal in his last nine games.
And recent signing Matteo Mancosu, who went in for Drogba in the 79th minute, got his first MLS goal in added time after being sent in on the right side by Patrice Bernier.
Chris Pontius, with his eighth of the year, replied for the Union. Philadelphia has lost four of its last seven matches.
Montreal (7-5-8) moved within one point behind second-place Philadelphia (8-7-6) in the MLS Eastern Conference with a game in hand. The Impact rebounded from a 3-1 home loss last week to New York City in style before a full house of 20,801 at Saputo Stadium.
