Sporting Kansas City picked up a crucial point in their quest to win the Supporters' Shield and to finish atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 0-0 tied with the Montreal Impact on Saturday. At the same time, the Impact's playoffs hopes were all but officially extinguished as they are six points out of the final spot with just three games left to play.
Montreal Impact Vs. Sporting Kansas City, 2012 MLS: SKC Keeps Pace
It was just the second time the Impact have failed to score at home in league play this year and the first time since falling 3-0 to Toronto FC back on June 27. They had entered this game with 31 goals at Stade Saputo, which was the third best home goal-scoring record in the league.
Sporting KC moved to 55 points on the season, five ahead of the Chicago Fire in the East and just two behind the San Jose Earthquakes. It was their 13th shutout of the season, which is the most in MLS this season.
Despite the Impact needing three points, neither side seemed intent on pushing the action. The Impact did have the better chances, though, and had a strong argument for a penalty late in the match when a Sporting KC defender got his arm on the ball as he slid toward the endline. The referee ruled the contact incidental.
The Impact had one last chance to grab the three points when Matteo Ferrari got a clean look at a header in stoppage time. But his shot was right at Jimmy Nielsen, who parried it away.
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