Bernier, Impact close gap on D.C. for final East playoff spot with 3-0 win

MONTREAL – Patrice Bernier scored from the penalty spot and added another goal late in the second half Saturday as the Montreal Impact defeated D.C. United 3-0 in Major League Soccer play.

The victory extended the Impact’s winning streak to five games and moved the club to within a point of fifth-place United for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

D.C., which hasn’t won back-to-back games since late May, does still have three games in hand.

Marco Di Vaio also scored for Montreal (12-13-3).

Leading 1-0 at halftime, Bernier put the sold-out crowd at Saputo Stadium into a frenzy when he converted a penalty kick in the 50th minute for his eighth goal of the season.

With the goal, Brossard, Que., native became the first player since Jamie Moreno in 2009 to score six goals on penalty kicks in a single season.

Montreal had chances to add to its lead in the second half, including several from Di Vaio. The Impact forward got a perfect setup from Bernier at 63rd minute, but the ball sailed over the net. Di Vaio had another chance for his second of the match in the 81st minute but his shot went wide but his shot again went wide.

Montreal goalkeeper Troy Perkins preserved his team’s two-goal lead in the 78th minute with a diving save to deny D.C. midfielder Marcelo Saragosa.

Bernier then added his second goal of the game in injury time on a slick finish past United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

Di Vaio was caught offside several times early in the first half but finally got his chance in the 24th minute when Bernier found him behind the D.C. defence. The Italian patiently outwaited Bill Hamid and beat him to the far corner for his third of the season.

United (12-9-4) is now 1-7-2 in matches in which it trails 1-0.

Awarded three free kicks in the opening nine minutes, D.C. had its chances to take the lead but was denied by Montreal keeper Troy Perkins.

The Impact came close to doubling its lead in the 38th minute on a Di Vaio free kick on the right flank but he couldn’t connect with midfielder Felipe Martins.