Matteo Mancosu's strike gives Impact playoff victory over Red Bulls

Matteo Mancosu scored in the second half as the Montreal Impact downed the New York Red Bulls 1-0 in the opening match of their MLS Eastern Conference semifinal before 15,027 at Saputo Stadium on Sunday.

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Montreal takes a one-goal lead into the second leg of the two-game, aggregate goals series next Sunday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., where they have never won in seven visits.

New York will be without forward Omer Damari, a substitute who was sent off in injury time after a hard slide into Calum Mallace.

The Impact were playing on only three days rest after their 4-2 victory at D.C. United in the knockout round if playoffs on Thursday, when Mancosu scored twice. They were facing the top team in the Eastern Conference, led by MLS goals-leader Bradley Wright Phillips.

The first half looked like a diving meet at times as players mugged for foul calls from referee Robert Sibiga. Former Impact midfelder Felipe Martins got a talking to only minutes into the game.

But each side also had a first-class scoring chance. Wright-Phillips was in alone early but saw Evan Bush make a vertical leap to grab his chip shot.

Drogba sidelined

Earlier on Sunday, Impact forward Didier Drogba confirmed on his Twitter account that he will miss the first leg of the Impact's Eastern Conference semifinal on Sunday against the New York Red Bulls due to a back injury. 

Drogba has recorded 10 goals and six assists in 22 games for Montreal this season.

However, there has been considerable debate as to whether it is an injury or an argument with Montreal coach Mauro Biello that has kept the 38-year-old out of the lineup.

On Oct. 16, Drogba did not show up to a match against Toronto FC, reportedly after he learned he would not be in the starting lineup for the third game in a row. He was consequently fined by the MLS for being absent without permission. 

Galaxy take Game 1 over Rapids

Giovani dos Santos scored his first career playoff goal in the 55th minute and the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on Sunday in Game 1 of the two-leg Western Conference semifinal series.

Los Angeles (13-6-16) had its 10th shutout of the season. Colorado (15-7-13) will host the second leg of the semifinal next Sunday.

Galaxy get past Rapids in 1st leg of West semifinals

8 years ago

Duration 0:24

Giovani dos Santos' header in the 55th minute proved to be the lone goal on Sunday as the LA Galaxy defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 in the first leg of their MLS Western Conference semifinals.

Jelle Van Damme keyed the goal when he cut back his defender at the edge of the box and found Dos Santos at the penalty spot. Dos Santos headed it down and it deflected off the head of defender Daniel Steres.