MONTREAL — A leg injury to Didier Drogba gave rookie forward Michael Salazar his first start in Major League Soccer, and the 23-year-old didn’t waste it.
The Belize international simply scored his first two MLS goals to lead the Montreal Impact to a comeback 3-2 victory on Saturday over the weary New England Revolution, who played their third league road game in a row.
"(Drogba) is a guy I looked up to since I was little kid," said Salazar, who was drafted 24th overall by Montreal this year. "He tells me every day that when you get your chance you take it.
"Today was my chance to go out there and take that opportunity."
Ignacio Piatti got the game-winner from the penalty spot, his 10th of the season, as the Impact erased an early 2-0 New England lead on a brace from their nemesis — Kai Kamara.
There were doubts this week that Drogba would be ready as he nursed an injury that is listed as day to day. When the Ivorian scoring legend was unable to play, coach Mauro Biello didn’t hesitate to turn to Salazar, who had been used five times previously as a late substitution.
"No pressure," Biello quipped of his replacing Drogba. "Michael scored his first two goals but it was his work that made the difference.
"He knows his responsibilities defensively and offensively. He scores in practice and I’m glad he was able to score today."
Salazar lived another childhood fantasy when he got a standing ovation from the 20,279 at Saputo Stadum as he subbed out for Johan Venegas in the 85th minute.
It was an important victory for Montreal (6-4-6), which won for only the second times in nine games, although the Impact have a 2-1-6 record in that span. They have been conceding sloppy goals that cost them points, getting mostly draws instead of wins in recent weeks.
This time, they were down by two in just over half an hour.
The Revolution (4-6-7) were on a counterattack when Lee Nguyen slipped a pass to Kelyn Rowe to create a three-on-two break. Rowe pushed it ahead for Kamara to go in alone and blast a shot past Evan Bush in the 18th minute.
Kamara out-jumped Ambroise Oyongo to nod in Chris Tierney’s corner kick in the 33rd. They were Kamara’s first two goals in MLS for New England since he was traded in May from Columbus — just after a May 7 game in which he scored twice against the Impact. Kamara has six goals in his last four games against Montreal.
Montreal got one back in the 40th when Oyongo’s cross went into the air off Jose Goncalves’ foot and Salazar got his bushy mop of hair onto it.
Salazar got another in the 48th as he chested down a Hassoun Camara pass, turned and fired past Brad Knighton. He thought he had the hat-trick when Knighton fell back into his goal on a corner kick but it was ruled a foul.
"I probably gave him a little bump," Salazar said.
Piatti was tripped in the penalty area by Knighton and made no mistake from the spot in the 54th.
As well as Drogba, the Impact were without midfielder Lucas Ontiveri, also day to day with a flu, and fullback Donny Toia and midfielder Marco Donadel, who may return next week from injuries.
Centreback Laurent Ciman has returned from playing for Belgium at the European Championship and will likely be back at training Monday and play Saturday at Salt Lake.
"He texted me and said ‘I want to come back. I hope you haven’t forgotten me," said Biello.
Surprisingly, the Impact are 4-2-0 without Drogba in the lineup this season. They went 7-2-2 when he joined the team late last season.
