The Montreal Impact couldn’t have asked for a better first start from star forward Didier Drogba.
The Ivorian legend was stunning on Saturday night, notching a hat trick in his first MLS start – just his second appearance in the league – to power the Impact to a huge 4-3 win against the Chicago Fire in front of an electric crowd at Stade Saputo. The breathtaking performance was enough for Drogba to be voted MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 27 of the 2015 MLS season.
In the 27th minute, Drogba officially opened his MLS account by showcasing the physicality, power, and clinical finishing that helped him to score more than 100 career goals for Chelsea in the English Premier League. Drogba received a cross from Nigel Reo-Coker in the middle of the box, brushed off defender Eric Gehrig with a half-spin move, and then slotted a right-footed shot past Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson (WATCH).
With Montreal trailing 3-2 midway through the second half, Drogba took matters into his own hands, scoring two more goals to propel the Impact to a crucial home win. In the 61st minute, Ignacio Piatti quickly played a free kick into the box to an unmarked Drogba, who powered a left-footed shot into the back of the net (WATCH). Less than five minutes later, Drogba found the winner, smashing a volley that Johnson initially saved, but couldn’t hold. Drogba followed through on the rebound, tapping it home with his head to complete the hat trick (WATCH).
Drogba and the sixth-place Impact will have a chance to further cement their playoff position on Saturday, when they take on the Supporters’ Shield-leading LA Galaxy at StubHub Center (10:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
