MLS Week 1: First impressions of all 24 teams

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: Los Angeles FC's head coach Bob Bradley prior to Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Sporting Kansas City at the Banc of California Stadium on March 3, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 2-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

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SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 02: Montreal Impact midfielder Ignacio Piatti (10) celebrates scoring his side’s first goal with teammate Montreal Impact midfielder Saphir Taider (8) as San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Judson (93) reacts during the MLS match between the Montreal Impact and the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on March 2, 2019 in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Montreal Impact

Ignacio Piatti may finally have enough help for Montreal to challenge for trophies. The Impact will need a couple of summer reinforcements to ensure a playoff spot, but the core of a challenger is in place. Remi Garde’s team stuck to the plan, even after conceding the early goal in San Jose leading to Saphir Taider’s 44th-minute winner.

For years, Piatti has been wasted. If he dropped deep, the Impact lacked any threats in advanced positions. Stay forward or wide, and Piatti risked being isolated. But now there is finally some help around him. Zakaria Diallo showed an ability to get forward and play dangerous passes on Taider’s goal. Taider and Diallo were arguably more important to the win than Piatti.

Piatti will always be the focal point, but that he has help throughout the team. That bodes well for Montreal’s future. Maxi Urriti can press opposing backlines and Bacary Sagna still has the guile and pace to provide width. Taider is capable of 10 goals and assists in a season. Diallo could be the most overlooked All-Star caliber defender in MLS. Piatti can dart between any line, space, or channel he pleases, with the knowledge he finally has support on all sides.

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