Impact eliminated from MLS Cup playoffs

The Montreal Impact won't get a chance to write another chapter to their remarkable MLS season.

Columbus Crew SC took care of that Sunday, knocking the Impact out of the playoffs after a roller-coaster 3-1 win in extra time that made for a 4-3 aggregate victory and a trip to the Eastern Conference final against the New York Red Bulls.

The Impact go home, wondering what might have been.

"This group had something, we believed that we could go a little bit further. And it's done," said Montreal captain Patrice Bernier, disappointment etched on his face. "Congrats to Columbus."

Talismanic striker Didier Drogba did not speak to the media, other than to briefly express his own disappointment in French.

"It's tough. There's a lot of unhappy players in that dressing room," said interim Montreal coach Mauro Biello.

"It was unfortunate the way things happened tonight but we showed a lot of fight, a lot of character," he added. "I think that's something important going forward."

Star striker Kei Kamara, restricted to one shot on goal in Montreal's 2-1 win in the opening leg at Saputo Stadium, scored headed goals early and late to cap the Columbus comeback before 19,026 at Mapfre Stadium.

Ethan Finlay also scored for Crew SC while Dilly Duka replied for Montreal, which was unable to make good on the advantage gained in the first leg. The Impact paid for a poor start to the rematch and an inability to take their chances despite outshooting Columbus 23-21 (11-9 in shots on target).

And they were unable to control Kamara.

The Sierra Leone international could have had four goals on the night, hitting the crossbar in the first half with yet another header and failing to convert a second-half penalty kick.

But his 111th-minute goal proved to be the dagger.

Substitute Cedrick Mabwati, a five-foot-six Congolese winger, delivered a fine cross from the left edge of the penalty box to the far post that the six-foot-three Kamara who is phenomenal in the air rose majestically to get.

Montreal 'keeper Evan Bush, who had stopped Kamara's penalty and deserved a better fate, could not get a hand to the ball as it looped over him.

It was Kamara's 11th headed goal this season.

His first goal came four minutes into the game, throwing Columbus an early lifeline.

Playmaker Federico Higuain set it up with a beautiful sweeping ball to find a charging Waylon Francis down the left flank. Kamara, who had been quiet in the first leg after a 22-goal regular season, beat Laurent Ciman to the ball at the near post and headed it down past Bush.

The goal resulted from a Marco Donadel giveaway with Duka failing to stop the cross at the byline.

After a stumbling start, Montreal began to find its feet late in the first half.

A 29th-minute shot from Ignacio Piatti went high. Piatti ripped another shot just wide in the 39th minute and Donadel forced a good save from Steve Clark seconds later as the Impact finally showed signs of life.