Photo by Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports

By RYAN TOLMICH

Wednesday night’s clash between the New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact proved to be a game of inches.

Tied at 1-1 late, former Impact midfielder Felipe smashed a free kick off the post on the game’s final kick, forcing the Red Bulls to settle for a 1-1 draw with the 10-man Impact Wednesday night at Stade Saputo.

Felipe’s free kick threatened to snag all three points for the Red Bulls, who were forced to come from behind due to a Dominic Oduro finish just before the half.

Running with the ball in the 42nd minute, Oduro played a perfectly-weighted pass into the path of Dilly Duka, who proceeded to leave the ball behind him. Oduro rushed onto the loose ball and smashed a shot first-time, beating Luis Robles to give the hosts the 1-0 lead.

That lead evaporated just 10 minutes into the second half, as Lloyd Sam provided an unconventional finish to get the Red Bulls back into the fight.

Shoved down behind while pursuing a ball in from Mike Grella, Sam saw his knee smash right into the cross in, bumping the ball into the near post to level the scoreline at 1-1.

The scoreline remained despite a 79th minute sending off of MLS All-Star Laurent Ciman, who was booked early in the first half for a handball before earning his sending off late in the second half.

Still, the Red Bulls failed to capitalize, settling for a draw that takes the team’s record to 5-1-1 in the past seven games. The Impact, meanwhile, preserve a hot-streak of their own, having lost just once in the team’s past five.

The Red Bulls will return to action Sunday at Red Bull Arena for a Hudson River Derby with New York City FC, while the Impact host conference leaders D.C. United one day prior.