Didier Drogba scores hat-trick on first Montreal Impact start

Within five minutes, Drogba had clinched the first match ball of his MLS adventure, following up his own volley from point-blank range.

Didier Drogba graded a hat-trick as Montreal Impact trumped Chicago Fire 4-3 within the seven-goal whodunit.

Since arriving in the Canadian city, the 37-year-old had restricted to just a 30-minute cameo in a loss to Philadelphia a fortnight ago while getting to grips with his new surroundings.

“The crowd was awesome”, Drogba told reporters.

The Chicago Fire (7-14-6, 27 points) fell on the road to the Montreal Impact (9-11-4, 31 points) on Saturday evening.

Impact interim coach Mauro Biello purred: “What can I say?”

Despite being 37-years-old, an age where most footballers would retire from their careers, Didier Drogba still has the hunger for goal that he had back in his first spell at Chelsea FC.

The Fire equalised nine minutes later as Jeff Larentowicz scored from the penalty spot following a Maxim Tissot foul on Harry Shipp in the area, but Montreal were back in front courtesy of Wandrille Lefevre.

Things started off poorly for Toronto as Sounders forwards Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins combined to give Seattle the early lead just six minutes into the contest.

The second half began with a great goal from Chicago as a corner from Shipp found Igboananike on a header to give Chicago the 3-2 lead. “It was a big responsibility for these young guys, but they stepped up to it, and I thought they deserve it and they got a huge win”.

In the second stanza, it was the Men in Red who charged out to their first lead.

Drogba became the first player to score a hat-trick within his opening two MLS matches, having come off the bench in his previous performance. The Union have as good a shot as any challenger to Montreal’s hold on the final playoff spot in the west, but those games in hand will be hard to overcome.

Four minutes later, Calum Mallace slipped a pass across the box.

At home and down a goal, Columbus controlled possession as they pushed for an equalizer.