Video: Didier Drogba scores two crucial back-heel goals in two minutes as Montreal Impact win 2-1
Didier Drogba is living it up in the United States and one would not be faulted for thinking he is still in the prime of his career, considering he is now 37 years old. Sunday was what the MLS calls ‘Decision Day’ – the final round of fixtures to decide which teams advance to the MLS playoffs. The top six teams from each conference move to the playoffs with the top two qualifying directly for the final while the others play a single elimintaion match.
Drogba’s team, Montreal Impact, had qualified for the playoffs with 48 points and looked set to finish sixth after going down 1-0 against Toronto FC. Then, Drogba turned it around in the second half in two astonishing minutes.
Nine minutes into the second half, a cross from the left flank found Drogba making a run near the six-yard box and the Ivorian striker simply used his left foot to back-heel the ball into the goal with both goalkeeper and defender flummoxed as the former Chelsea man wheeled away in celebration.
A draw would have been enough to get into the top six and seal a playoff spot. But Drogba wasn’t done yet.
Just a minute later, he scored again – almost an identical replay of his first goal. The cross came in from the left but this time Drogba used his right foot to squeeze the shot past the defender and the flailing arm of the goalkeeper.
Two identical quick-fire goals in two minutes – Drogba-vu indeed! Impact finished third in the Eastern Conference standings and will now play the sixth placed team. Their opponents? A rematch against Toronto FC!