By Canadian Press

Impact hope to build on 5-1 win over Union when they visit D.C. United

Jul 29, 2016 | 1:30 PM

MONTREAL — Captain Patrice Bernier wants to prove the Montreal Impact’s most impressive win in years wasn’t just a fluke.

Coming off a 5-1 win against Philadelphia last weekend, Bernier and the Impact are determined to build on that performance when they play D.C. United in MLS action on Sunday.

On the back of Didier Drogba’s hat trick, Montreal scored five goals in a match for the first time since a 5-0 victory over Houston on Aug. 24, 2013.

“We haven’t won a game like that in a very long time,” said Bernier, who played a full 90 minutes against the Union. “Usually it’s a draw, or we come from behind. This was domination from start to finish. We played hard from the opening whistle and never slowed down. When we play like that, nobody can stop us.

“That win doesn’t mean we will go out and win the league, but it’s definitely something to build on.”

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Montreal’s (7-5-8) opponent on Sunday is a struggling D.C. United side that is winless in its last four matches, though all of those came on the road.

United (5-8-7) are eighth in the Eastern Conference and have one win in their last eight games in all competitions. Ben Olsen’s side are within four points of the last playoff spot in the East.

 Recent acquisitions Lloyd Sam and Patrick Mullins will make their home debuts as the club returning to RFK Stadium for the first time in a month.

United have never lost to Montreal at home (3-0-2) and they are 5-3-3 all-time against the Canadian team.

That undefeated home record will certainly be under threat on Sunday, as Drogba, Laurent Ciman and Ignacio Piatti are all expected to dress for Montreal. The trio were in California on Thursday for the MLS All-Star Game, where Drogba scored the team’s lone goal in a 2-1 loss against Arsenal.

Drogba and Piatti have combined for 20 of Montreal’s 35 goals this season, more than D.C. United’s entire team (19).

United top scorer Alvaro Saborio has four goals this year.

“Drogba comes to town, Piatti, two of the best players in the league,” Olsen told the team’s website. “We’ll have our hands full. We have to be hyper alert but also competitive and play with a little edge.”

United may also have to contend with Montreal’s own new acquisitions.

Italian striker Matteo Mancosu contributed to the onslaught on Saturday, scoring a goal in his Impact debut just 12 minutes after coming on as a substitute. Mancosu will likely make an appearance at RFK, especially after Drogba played at the All-Star game.

Newly-acquired midfielder Hernan Bernardello, who played parts of the 2013 and ’14 seasons with Montreal, may also dress for the Impact.

The 29-year-old Argentine was one of Montreal’s designated players when he signed with the club three years ago. After a lucklustre spell with the Impact, Bernardello played in Mexico, Argentina and then Spain. Most recently, the central midfielder helped Spanish club Deportivo Alaves earn promotion to Spain’s top league.

“This team has changed a lot since I was last here,” said Bernardello, who left Montreal in 2014 for Mexico’s Cruz Azul. “The new training centre is incredible, and there are all new players. This team has evolved.

“The year I played here wasn’t my best. But I always loved the city, the team and the fans. I intend to be better now than I was.”

Coincidentally, Bernardello was a member of that Impact squad that thumped Houston 5-0 back in 2013.

Notes: This is the first meeting of the season for Montreal and D.C. The two teams will face off again next month at Saputo Stadium. … United play their next four games at home.

Kelsey Patterson, The Canadian Press