Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba scored a hat-trick on his first Major League Soccer start as Montreal Impact beat Chicago Fire 4-3. The 37-year-old made his debut as a substitute in a defeat two weeks ago.
Didier Drogba scored a hat-trick in his first start for Montreal, leading the Impact to a 4-3 home win against Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer on Saturday night. Drogba's hat-trick included the equalising and go-ahead goals in quick succession midway through the second-half.
The former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker put Montreal ahead in the 27th minute on a goal set up by Nigel Reo-Coker's cross. A flurry of three goals in eight minutes left the teams locked 2-2 at half-time. Chicago's Jeff Larentowicz converted a penalty in the 36th minute to level the scores, Wandrille Lefevre put Montreal ahead by heading in a corner in the 42nd, and Gilberto scored against his former club in the 44th to bring the Fire level again.
Kennedy Igboananike scored in the 59th minute to put Chicago in front for the first time, but it was Drogba who lifted Montreal to victory in the Impact's first game under interim coach Mauro Biello following Frank Klopas' firing.
Drogba drilled home the equaliser with a shot from near the edge of the area. In the 65th, his volley was saved by the goalkeeper but it was the former Chelsea striker who reacted quickest as he ran in to head the ball over the line with the keeper still grounded from the initial save. That completed a perfect hat-trick: right foot, left foot and header.