Impact lose MLS season opener to D.C. United 1-0

The Impact's 2015 MLS season began in an all too familiar fashion: with a loss. Montreal, the league's worst team last year, dropped the first game on their schedule to D.C. United 1-0 on Saturday.

On a frigid afternoon at RFK Stadium, neither team was particularly sharp but it was United that got the game's decisive goal when Jairo Arrieta struck in the 58th minute on a counter-attack.

"It was unlucky because it was a soft goal out of nothing," said Impact head coach Frank Klopas. "The fair result would've probably been a 0-0 game."

It also looks like Montreal could be without midfielder Justin Mapp for a significant period of time.

Pressing for the equalizer in the 81st minute, Mapp barreled forward with the ball and collided with D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid. Mapp hit the ground hard and was taken off the field on a stretcher. After the game the club confirmed that Mapp had dislocated his left elbow.

"I think they're going to take him to the hospital and just put [the joint] back," said Klopas. "It's just unfortunate because it was a great play for us. A great first touch, and I don't know what happened with the field. It's just an incident you don't want to see with any player."

Montreal doesn't play an MLS game for another two weeks but they'll have to get over the disappointment of losing the match and Mapp quickly. The Impact host Costa Rican side Alajuelense on March 18 at Olympic Stadium in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal tie.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr