DALLAS, Texas – The Montreal Impact plays its third game of the 2016 season this Saturday, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, against FC Dallas. Kickoff is scheduled for 9pm EDT on TVA Sports 2 (pre-game show starting at 8:30pm) and on CJAD 800.
“FC Dallas is very good at home, with a very good attack, a lot of speed and a lot of clever players that we need to be aware of,” said head coach Mauro Biello. “For us, it’s about continuing to work on what we’ve put in place in the last six to seven weeks and find that consistency in our play, and at the same time, be the team that we want to be defensively and offensively, and being compact at all times.”
Impact scores and soars
The Impact currently stands atop the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings with two wins in two games (2-0-0, 6 pts), having also scored the most goals (6) and posting the best goal differential (+4) in the Eastern Conference.
Designated Player Ignacio Piatti is the current top marksman in MLS with three strikes. Dominic Oduro’s two goals put him in second place in the scoring rankings, tied with 10 other players. Piatti and teammate Harry Shipp, for their part, are two of 10 players who have already picked up two assists and sit top of the assists rankings.
In its first four MLS seasons, Montreal has compiled a record of 1-2-1 against FC Dallas. But the Impact has lost its two games played in Frisco.
“They’re one of the teams to beat,” said forward Dominic Oduro. “Last year, they had a good run, and this year, I still think that they have some great players. But we have to go to Dallas and earn those points on the road. They’re a very good team, but at the same time, we worry about ourselves and let them worry about us.”
Last Saturday, the Impact defeated the New York Red Bulls, 3-0, at the Olympic Stadium, thanks to goals by Oduro, Piatti and Anthony Jackson-Hamel. Piatti and defender Laurent Ciman were rewarded with MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week mentions, with Harry Shipp earning a spot amongst the substitutes.
Impact wary of dangerous Dallas team
FC Dallas, meanwhile, suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at its Texas rivals, Houston Dynamo. With its 1-1-0 record and minus-3 goal differential, Dallas settles for eighth place in the Western Conference.
“We’re wary of every team,” said Ciman. “We don’t believe ourselves to be better than we actually are. We started the season well, but we’re keeping our feet on the ground. Dallas is a good team despite the loss to Houston. It’ll be a different game in their stadium. They’ll be determined to do better than last week.”
Goalkeeper Evan Bush could record his 20th MLS win this Saturday. The Impact has done well away from home lately, winning its last third regular season games on the road – in Colorado, New England and Vancouver.
Next game at Olympic Stadium
The Montreal Impact’s next home game takes place on Saturday, April 9, at 4pm EDT at the Olympic Stadium against Columbus Crew SC (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). Excellent tickets are still available, starting at $29 (including taxes, plus service charge). Season tickets starting at only $339, as well as Pick-4-Packs, are also available on impactmontreal.com.
