LOS ANGELES, California – Following a few good results, the Montreal Impact (3-7-5) has turned the page on a tough start to the season but the team will take nothing for granted, as it faces Chivas USA (4-7-5) this Saturday night (10:30pm EDT) at StubHub Center.
“We have to remember that we are still near the bottom of the table,” said keeper Troy Perkins. “So we forget about last week, we keep fighting and prove to ourselves that we are a good team which had some bad results early in the season.”
Last week’s 3-0 drubbing of the Houston Dynamo at home was a good start in proving the team’s quality. Perkins feels the break was beneficial for his side.
“Getting the guys back healthy is the biggest thing for us. Having everyone together and back into the rhythm of the play helped a lot.”
Jack McInerney, who was named the MLS Player of the Week, has been on a tear for his new team, scoring nine goals in 14 matches across all competitions since being acquired in a trade earlier this season.
The team has been playing solid defensively, earning three shutouts in its last four MLS games, and shutting out its opponents in the last 225 minutes.
But the Impact may be put to the test Saturday following a six-hour flight and the time change that will make it even tougher for IMFC against a Chivas side that has some momentum. Chivas USA is undefeated in its last four games (2-0-2) across all competitions, allowing just two goals over that span.
“They are a team that hasn’t given much to their opponents,” said assistant coach Mauro Biello. “We have to be ready mentally to face all that comes with a difficult road trip. They have a great young striker in Erick Torres (11 goals), midfielder Mauro Rosales (5 assists) has refound his form and they have some players returning from the World Cup, so we are expecting a tough game from them.”
The Impact will then return to Stade Saputo to face Sporting Kansas City next Saturday, at 7:30pm (EDT). Excellent tickets for that game are still available via ticketmaster.ca.
