Real Salt Lake - Montreal Impact
Wednesday, April 4, 2012, 9pm (ET)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
Television: TVA Sports and available on illico Mobile and Web
SANDY, Utah – The Montreal Impact (0-3-1) will play its third of three consecutive games on the road this Wednesday, at 9pm ET, against Real Salt Lake (3-1-0) at Rio Tinto Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on TVA Sports and is available on illico Mobile and Web.
This will be the club’s fifth game of its inaugural season, fourth away from home, while it will serve as the third home for RSL. In its last match, the Impact lost 5-2 against New York, Saturday, when French international Thierry Henry scored the first hat trick of his MLS career. Sanna Nyassi and Justin Mapp scored for the Impact.
Head coach Jason Kreis’ team is coming off of a comeback victory against the Portland Timbers in its last game, Saturday, scoring two goals in the game’s final minutes to seal a 3-2 win. Former NASL player Jonny Steele scored the game-tying goal, while midfielder Kyle Beckerman bagged the game-winner in the 93rd minute.
RSL, which has lost only once this season, 1-0 at home against Chivas USA on March 24, has already scored eight goals so far this season.
“They are a team that likes to move the ball, with creative players, and they are coming off a good win against Portland,” said Impact assistant coach Mike Sorber. “Their spirits are up. We want to stick to our foundations and principles, with some tweaks as each team presents you with something different. There might be some changes in the lineup as well as we are playing a lot of games with a short turnaround.”
Players available for game
GK - Donovan Ricketts, Greg Sutton
D - Jeb Brovsky, Shavar Thomas, Calum Mallace, Tyson Wahl, Matteo Ferrari, Josh Gardner
M - Davy Arnaud, Patrice Bernier, Collen Warner, Felipe, Justin Mapp, Lamar Neagle, Sinisa Ubiparipovic
F - Bernardo Corradi, Justin Braun, Sanna Nyassi, Andrew Wenger
Midfielder Collen Warner could play against his former team for the first time since being acquired in the expansion draft last November. He appeared in 37 games for Real Salt Lake in his first two seasons in MLS. The 2011 season was a breakout year for Warner as he totalled five assists in 24 games (1,106 minutes played), including 15 as a starter. He also appeared in three CONCACAF Champions League games for RSL, scoring one goal and one assist.
“I’m excited. It’s nice to come back,” said Warner. “They are a strong side that works extremely hard defensively. They like to have possession of the ball. It’s going to be a difficult game but should be a good one as well, as we match up well against them.”
Forward Justin Braun, who reached 100 career games played in MLS last Saturday against the Red Bulls, was born and raised in Salt Lake City.
“It’s always fun to be back home and get to see the family play in front of them,” said Braun, who is listed as probable in the league injury report. “I always look forward to come back here. Real Salt Lake has had a good team for the last few years, so it’s fun to play them. They are very cohesive, but I think we have a good game plan and we will be ready for Wednesday.”
Next game
The team returns to Montreal for a matchup on April 7 against its Canadian rivals, Toronto FC, at Olympic Stadium. Kick off was changed from 1pm to 12pm (ET). The stadium doors will open at 10 am, while the ticket office will open at 9am. The organization invites all supporters to join La Garde to “Defend the North”, as some 1,000 Toronto FC supporters will invade the stands for this matchup. Season tickets are still available online at impactmontreal.com or by calling 514-328-3668 while individual for all games presented at the Olympic Stadium are also available through the Admission network.
Game Notes
- Defender Jeb Brovsky will be available after serving a one-game suspension against New York.
- Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is currently tied for third among MLS goalkeepers with 14 saves.
- Forward Sanna Nyassi is tied for fifth in the league with 13 shots and six shots on goal.
- The Montreal Impact is currently second among MLS teams with 58 shots and 25 shots on goal and first in fouls committed with 67.
- In high school, Justin Braun was the leading scorer in the state of Utah during his junior and senior years. He then played for Olympique Montreux, a men's amateur team in the area, and was invited to be part of the Utah Select Team, which took part in the 2008 George F. Donnelly Cup, where he was spotted by then Chivas USA head coach Preki.
- Injury Report: OUT - D Nelson Rivas: Hamstring sprain, F Eduardo Sebrango: Left groin strain, D Hassoun Camara: Right quad strain PROBABLE: F Justin Braun: Left groin strain
- Canadian midfielder Will Johnson has played 89 games with Real Salt Lake since joining the club in 2008, winning the MLS Goal of the Year that season. He also participated in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game against Everton F.C. and won the 2009 MLS Cup. Originally from Toronto, Ontario, he has played 24 games with the Canadian National Team.
