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LA Galaxy lose late to Montreal Impact 3-2

By Mike Gray
Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

A Didier Drogba free kick late in stoppage time went through Brian Rowe's hands as Montreal stole a 3-2 victory before a sellout crowd Saturday night at State Saputo.

With Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes away on international duty, Mike Magee got the start up front and Boateng and Lletget were stationed on the wings as LA fielded a 4-4-2 diamond formation.

LA drew first blood in just the 8th minute off a Montreal error. Maxim Tissot and goalkeeper Evan Bush had a fatal mix up in the box, and the result was a grateful dos Santos tucking away the ball into an empty net.

Bush almost gifted LA another goal when he popped up a difficult clearance, but after Magee pounced on the ball and squared to dos Santos, the forward overshot his attempt.

The Galaxy looked comfortable in possession, but in the 26th minute Montreal leveled the match on a lighting fast counter-attack. Didier Drogba played Dominic Oduro into space on the left flank, and after cutting inside Jelle Van Damme, Oduro squared a simple pass to the onrushing Ignacio Piatti, who put an easy finish past Rowe.

The second half began with a flourish. In the 56th minute the Impact went ahead when Lucas Ontivero received the ball in the box and evaded Ashley Cole before curling a beautiful shot into the right side netting.

However, while Montreal were still celebrating, the Galaxy equalized. After probing outside the right corner of the box, Sebastian Lletget passed to Gerrard, and his one-time cross located Mike Magee, who's clever trap gave him enough space to slot a low finish past Bush.

Montreal had plenty of opportunities to level the match, but the Galaxy defense held firm until late in stoppage time, when a knuckling Drogba free kick went through the unlucky hands of Rowe to gift the Impact a thrilling 3-2 win.

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