Drogba's injury-time free kick sees Montreal sink LA Galaxy

Montreal - Didier Drogba scored an injury-time winner as the Montreal Impact downed the LA Galaxy 3-2 to maintain their place near the top of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference standings on Saturday.

Drogba's goal in the fourth minute of injury time came after a terrible blunder by Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe, who allowed the former Chelsea striker's long-range free kick to squirt from his grasp and into the net.

The injury-time strike was the final twist of a pulsating game in Montreal which left the Canadian club firmly among the Eastern Conference front-runners.

Giovani Dos Santos had fired LA into the lead after only eight minutes, capitalising after Maxim Tissot failed to head clear to leave the Mexican international a simple tap-in.

Montreal hit back though on 26 minutes with a superbly worked counter-attack which saw Dominic Oduro sprint almost the length of the field before passing to Ignacio Piatti who tucked away the equaliser.

The Impact took the lead early in the second half with a fine individual goal from Lucas Ontivero, who lost his marker with a clever turn before unleashing a ferocious shot into the top corner in the 56th minute.

LA responded within two minutes when Mike Magee controlled Steven Gerrard's cross into the area, turned and drilled in for 2-2.

That looked to be enough for a share of the points until Rowe's late gaffe gifted Montreal the win.