Montreal Impact came from behind despite being reduced to 10 men to secure a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City to extend their lead at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference.

The visitors started the game strongly but spurned a great chance to take the lead when Marco Di Vaio put Felipe Martins behind the Kansas defence, but he could only fire his shot off the post.

From the rebound Martins collected the ball and put it back in the path of Di Vaio, but he dragged his effort wide of the target.

This was to cost Montreal as City were awarded a penalty when Alessandro Nesta brought down Claudio Bieler, who made no mistake with the spot kick, firing the ball into the net.

After the break, the Impact were level within minutes as Sanna Nyassi drilled a low shot through a crowd of players past Jimmy Nielsen into the bottom corner of the net.

Montreal took the lead when Kansas failed to clear their lines from a corner and Peterson Joseph's miskick landed straight to Collen Warner, who was left with a simple finish.

City were offered a lifeline in the 74th minute when Nesta was sent off for head-butting Bieler, but Kei Kamara wasted their only opportunity going forward as the Impact saw out the win.