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MONTREAL -- Young fullback Karl Ouimettes first Major League Soccer goal was the stuff of dreams. The 21-year-old headed in the game winner in the 84th minute to cap a comeback 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday afternoon that put the Montreal Impact a big step closer to making the playoffs. The Impact academy product from Repentigny, Que., said he lay in bed the night before the game visualizing how he should play in various situations and what it would feel like to get a goal. It came true on Justin Mapps free kick after a foul by the Unions Raymon Gaddis. Mapp curled a ball into the penalty area where three Impact players were open. Ouimette was the one to nod it home. "It felt magical," said Ouimette, who was awarded with a post game face full of shaving cream by his teammates. "There are no words. I put it in and everyone was jumping on me." The win put Montreal (14-12-7) solidly into playoff position heading into their final regular season game next Saturday in Toronto, although final positions among the top five in the Eastern Conference are still to be determined. The Union (12-11-10), who began the day in a fourth-place tie with Montreal and Chicago, saw their post-season hopes all-but dashed. "This was a playoff game without the playoffs," said Philadelphia coach John Hackworth. "Both of us had to win. We did a good job in the first half, but we couldnt finish it off." The victory lifted a great weight off a Montreal side that had gone winless in six games and that was shut out in the last three. They looked headed for more disappointment when midfielder Fabinho put the visitors ahead in the 29th minute, but veteran Marco Di Vaio scored his 20th goal of the season in the 64th minute to tie the game before Ouimette had the Saputo Stadium crowd on its feet with the game-winner. "Its not finished yet, but given our last string of games and a lot of disappointment, to come out on top in the last home game of the regular season feels good," said Mapp. "Every team Ive been on has had stretches like this, but unfortunately, it came at the end of the season when were trying to lock up a playoff spot. "Its a big three points here, but weve got one other huge game, so its not over yet." After a flat first half, the Impact played with an intensity they havent shown in more than a month. They used their legs. They won one-on-one battles. They got to balls first. Coach Marco Schallibaum took veterans Patrice Bernier and Davy Arnaud out and sent in Andrew Wenger and Andrea Pisanu to add fresh legs and the pressure increased. "We came out much different in the second half," said Wenger. "There was desperation. "We dug ourselves out." Before he was substituted, Arnaud fed Di Vaio in the penalty area and saw the MLS scoring leader spin and beat goalie Zac MacMath. It ended the Impacts 337-minute scoring drought dating to a Maxim Tissot goal in a 2-2 tie in Chicago on Sept. 28. And it made Di Vaio only the 11th in MLS history to score 20 in a season. "It gave us 30 seconds to breath," Wenger said of the goal. "But a tie wouldnt do it for us today. "Thankfully, we kept fighting." Conor Casey nearly got one for the Union as he headed Fabinhos corner off a post in the 24th minute. Then Philadelphias two Brazilians combined as Jose Kleberson sent a pass to a charging Fabinho, who caught Hassoun Camara looking as he blasted a high shot in from a bad angle in the 29th. The only disappointment for Montreal was to see veteran defender Alessandro Nesta hobble off the field in the closing minutes with a right calf injury. Before the game, the former Italy international was presented with a painting and given a standing ovation to mark his final home game. The 37-year-old former AC Milan great, a four-time UEFA all-star, will retire after this season. He hopes to be back in time to play at least one game. "My calf, in the last five minutes I felt something," he said. "If I can play, for sure Im going to be on the field. "It was a beautiful day. Thank you everybody for the big experience. I love this city. I dont know. Maybe in the future well meet again." Notes: Arnaud and Matteo Ferrari returned from one-game suspensions. Ouimette played left back in place of Job Brovsky (ankle). . . One of the Unions top midfielders, Michael Farfan, sat out due to yellow card accumulation. Brett Gardner Jersey . With one week left in the regular season, Cornish - voted The Toughest Player To Bring Down - is a leading candidate for the CFLs Most Outstanding Player award. He has rushed for 1,799 yards and could break Willie Burdens club record for rushing yards in a single season with a 98-yard performance against the B. Gary Sanchez Jersey . Beanballs were the theme Friday night as the Red Sox and Rays had another AL East rumble, with Boston earning a 3-2 victory on A. http://www.cheapyankeesjerseyschina.com/babe-ruth-jersey/ .200. His solution to his hitting woes was business in the front and a party in the back."That would be a mullet," Norris says. Reggie Jackson Jersey . -- The defending Canadian womens curling champions squandered an opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the standings Tuesday at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Johnny Damon Jersey . He learned about pressure and expectations at the 2010 Games in his hometown of Vancouver. His next mission is to build on that experience at his next Olympic appearance in Sochi, where he plans to ride the momentum from the teams strong start to the season.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Julius Thomas is about to cash in, one way or another.One of Denvers dozen unrestricted free agents, hell either get a long-term contract soon or play next season under the Broncos franchise tag.General manager John Elway said back on Jan. 12 that re-signing both the big tight end and star wide receiver Demaryius Thomas were his top priorities after finding a new coach.I didnt hear about that until now from you, Thomas told The Associated Press. But I think its good thats something they want to do. Obviously, those conversations and negotiations will take place in the next coming weeks. Hopefully it all works out.If not, Thomas will still see a big jump in his pay. He made $645,000 in the final year of his rookie deal.Thomas is a bit of an uncertainty. He has spent 2 1-2 years nursing ankle injuries that rendered his production near nil and 1 1-2 years as a transcendent tight end a la Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham.Thomas stock soared after he rejected Denvers contract offer last summer. He scored a dozen TDs through nine games, becoming the first tight end in league history to post back-to-back 12-touchdown seasons.Gronkowskis record 17 TDs seemed well within reach. So did Grahams record four-year, $40 million contract he signed last summer that made him the leagues highest-paid tight end.Then, Thomas turned his left ankle at St. Louis on Nov. 16 and was never the same. Neither were the Broncos, who went from Super Bowl favourite to one-and-done in the playoffs.Thomas said he has no idea if his stock slipped along with his production: It is what it is. Theres no changing it. So, well just see. And he wouldnt venture a guess as to whether hell still be in a Broncos uniform: I guess well all know shortly.Thomas was one of Denvers league-high 11 Pro Bowlers. But he skipped the annual all-star game for the second consecutive season. Last year, he was preparing for the Super Bowl. He sat this one out to protect his tender ankle — and maybe even his earnings potential.Thomas said he starts training again next month and didnt want to risk any setbackss.ddddddddddddIm going to really get after it to make sure Im ready for OTAs. And I wanted to be able to be healthy then and feeling 100 per cent, so I need to attack this off-season the way I need to, he said. I have goals that I still need to achieve, and the only way to get there is through work.Thomas said his ankle is feeling good, man, getting an opportunity to rest it. Thats the No. 1 way to heal. So, its definitely feeling fine. It just needs a little rest.He said he had a tough time watching the Pro Bowl.It was hard missing an opportunity to compete against the best of the best in the world, Thomas said Monday via phone while promoting the release of the Havoc DLC pack for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare in San Francisco.I have to go back so I can finally get out there and play in that Pro Bowl.Thomas has always maintained this latest ankle injury wasnt anywhere near as serious as the one he sustained to his right ankle on his first catch his rookie year. That injury lingered and essentially cost him his first two years in the NFL.There are other unknowns facing Thomas: even if he returns to Denver, he doesnt know who his quarterback will be.With Peyton Manning mulling retirement, Denvers offence could be run by the man whos thrown an NFL record 530 touchdown passes or Brock Osweiler, whos thrown just one.If Manning decides to come back, hell give everything he has because thats the kind of competitor he is and the love he has for this game, Thomas said. And if he decides his time of running around and getting chased by big guys is over, hell have so much to show for it. Hes one of the greatest athletes ever, one of the greatest football players ever. Hell always be in the conversation of whos the best football player of all time.And if its Osweiler running Gary Kubiaks West Coast offence, thats fine with him, too.When it comes to Brock, Im a believer. I have a lot of faith in what he can do, Thomas said. 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