Impact Beat Red Bulls 1-0 In First Match Of Conference Semifinals

MONTREAL (CBSNewYork/AP) — Matteo Mancosu scored in the second half and the Montreal Impact beat the New York Red Bulls 1-0 on Sunday in the opening match of their MLS Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Montreal will take a one-goal lead into the second leg of the two-game, aggregate-goals series next Sunday at Red Bull Arena.

"At times we played well and were organized and then one play cost us, even though we had pretty good control of the match," Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said. "And even when we had good chances, we couldn't convert them. So, we walk out of here without a goal, but we know it's only halftime. There's a lot more to go in this series."

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 of rest after their 4-2 victory at D.C. United in the knockout round Thursday, when Mancosu scored twice. They were facing the top team in the Eastern Conference, led by MLS goals-leader Bradley Wright Phillips.

In the 61st, the Impact's counter-attacking game clicked in as Marco Donadel lofted a high pass over the Red Bulls' defense and, without breaking stride, former Bologna striker Mancosu drilled a high shot under the crossbar for his third of the postseason.

"The first half, (the Red Bulls) had a lot of pressure," Impact's captain Patrice Bernier said. "We expected it, but it wasn't easy. They wanted to play fast to get us unbalanced and tired because we played on Thursday. And I'm pretty sure they knew they were playing a team that's a bit older, but our will is a lot stronger than our fatigue. We weathered the storm and we waited to pounce when we had a chance."

The Impact were without striker Didier Drogba for a third straight game. The Ivorian has been recovering from a sore back. Coach Mauro Biello had hoped to have him available off the bench.

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