Goncalves lifts Revolution to 1-0 win as Impact winless run stretches to five

MONTREAL – Jose Goncalves scored in the 31st minute as the New England Revolution kept their MLS playoff hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over the slumping Montreal Impact on Saturday afternoon.

The Revolution (12-11-9) moved to only one point behind the Impact (13-11-7), which began the day fourth in the Eastern Conference. Montreal is winless in five games and its own playoff aspirations look to be in danger with three games to play in the regular season.

The less than sellout crowd of 18,917 went silent in the 19th minute when Revolution forward Saer Sene looked to snap his left ankle while going for a ball in the Montreal penalty area. Sene’s foot got caught between Davy Arnaud’s legs and appeared to be pointing the wrong way as he lay on the pitch in agony.

He was taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Dimitry Imbongo. No foul was called as Arnaud got to the ball first.

The Impact was fortunate to come out of the first half down by only one goal as passive defence led to a succession of chances for the visitors.

Troy Perkins made a diving save on Lee Nguyen’s hard shot in the 10th minute and a Sene blast two minutes later went just wide.

After Sene’s injury, Montreal failed to clear the ball after a free kick. Diego Fagundez sent a pass across the box that Goncalves fired in from the left side for his second of the season.

The Impact got some life after bringing in three substitutes early in the second half but New England got the best chance on a Chris Tierney free kick that went off the crossbar.

The Revs are unbeaten in four games.

The Impact plays in Los Angeles on Wednesday and returns home to face Philadelphia next Saturday. The Revs host Columbus next weekend.

Notes — Alessandro Nesta returned to Montreal’s lineup after missing two games with a groin injury and Hernan Bernardello was back after sitting out five contests with a sprained ankle. Sanna Nyassi moved into the starting 11 in place of Felipe Martins. Maxim Tissot replaced injured fullback Jeb Brovsky.