Didier Drogba's hat trick helps Impact defeat Fire

It seems all the fuss about Didier Drogba was warranted.

The former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star scored a hat trick, including the tying and winning goals in the second half, in his MLS start to lift the Montreal Impact to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.

The sellout crowd of 20,801 went wild when 37-year-old Drogba headed in his own rebound for the decisive goal in the 65th minute and were on their feet for another ovation when he was named star of the game.

"The crowd was amazing," said Drogba. "This man of the match at the end that they gave me, I give it to them."

It was Montreal's first match since Mauro Biello replaced the fired Frank Klopas as head coach and the Montreal native saw a masterpiece from the Impact's latest designated player.

Drogba opened the scoring in the 27th minute and came up with two more after Kennedy Igboananike put Chicago ahead 3-2 early in the second half.

"I really wanted to score but most importantly I wanted to win the game," said Drogba. "Since I'm here, we haven't won a game, so it was something I really wanted to do.

"We did it together today and I'm quite happy for the manager and I also want to thank Frank who was here before. This result was also for him."

ESPN stats reported he is the first player to get a hat trick within his first two MLS games.

With both clubs missing key defenders to international duty, the goals came freely.

Wandrille Lefevre also scored for Montreal (9-11-4), which ended a four-game winless run. Montreal moved ahead of Orlando into the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Jeff Larentowicz, on a penalty, and Gilberto also had goals for the Fire (7-14-6), who have not won away from home this season.

Drogba, who made his Impact debut with 31 second-half minutes in a 1-0 loss to D.C. United two weeks ago, returned from a toe injury to make his first start.

The big-bodied striker was an imposing figure in front of the Fire goal, but he also did his bit on the defensive side. He had seven of Montreal's 15 shots, including four of the nine on target.

"It's a different dynamic now," said fullback Nigel Reo-Coker, who set up Drogba's first goal with a precision cross from the right side. "It reminds me of old school Manchester United with the fullbacks pushing on, overlapping runs, and playing very attacking football, knowing we've got the opportunity to put crosses into the box for a first class striker to finish."

The moment the crowd was waiting for came when Drogba brought down Reo-Coker's pass, brushed defender Eric Gehrig aside and slammed in his first Impact goal.

Nine minutes later, Maxim Tissot tripped Harry Shipp and Fire captain Larentowicz made no mistake from the spot.

Montreal went ahead again when Lefevre headed the ball in at the far side from Marco Donadel's corner in the 43rd, but less than a minute later, Glberto equalized when he stepped in front of Lefevre and redirected Igboananike's pass.

Igboananike leapt over a crowd to head in a goal in the 59th, but then Drogba went to work.

Ignacio Piatti played a free kick quickly to put him in alone to equalize in the 61st minute.

Four minutes later, Calum Mallace slipped a pass across the box. Drogba's volley was stopped by Sean Johnson, but he headed home the rebound.