PORTLAND, Ore. -- In the middle of the week, just four days after their 1-1 draw at altitude against Real Salt Lake, the Montreal Impact flew across North America to take on the Portland Timbers. After giving up a goal to the home side in just the 14th minute, it looked like the Impact were destined for a long journey home with no points to be had.
But as he has on ten other chances in the 2016 season, it was Ignacio Piatti who took control to pull the Impact even with the home side and secure a point for the Impact from Wednesday's 1-1 draw.
"It was a little tough early on with the fans," Montreal head coach Mauro Biello told the press in the postgame press conference. "We had some trouble on set pieces. They had a little bit of the momentum and the rhythm early on, but we grew and got better as the game went on and we were able to control the game in terms of possession and create some very good chances."
Piatti's influence on the match was not lost on Biello.
"I think that when you have players like that, they can make things happen out of nothing," he said. "His goal was going one on one, he got a bounce, it was on his foot, and he was able to score."
For the Impact, it is Piatti's ability to break open a game like he did against the Timbers that has been a major factor in the team's ability to come back after falling behind, something Montreal have now done six times in the 2016 season.
"Nacho is one of the best players in the league and he is someone that gets chances every game," said Biello. "He is able to unbalance you on the dribble. He is able to finish. [This year] he has been doing a good job. He works defensively and he gives one hundred percent every night. To have him and to be able to unbalance other teams is a good thing for us."
