BRIDGEVIEW, Illinois – The Montreal Impact hits the road again this Saturday, at Toyota Park, when it takes on the Chicago Fire. The game will be broadcast live, starting at 5pm EDT, on TVA Sports 2 (pregame show at 4:30pm), 98,5fm and TSN Radio 690 (pregame show at 4pm).
“The Fire is a hardworking team that has had some success recently,” said head coach Mauro Biello. “They are difficult to breakdown. We have to be at our best and adopt a good mentality. It won’t be enough to say that we’re going to start playing and just unbalance them. They will be ready to fight, and we have to match that.”
A remarkable start
After winning its first two MLS home games without conceding a goal for the first time in its history, the Impact will be looking to extend of its best-ever starts to a season against the Fire. The Impact is currently top of the MLS Eastern Conference with a 3-2-0 (9 pts) record. Within its conference, the Impact has scored the second-most goals (eight) and conceded the least goals (five, tied with three other teams).
Impact players have also delivered the second most assists in MLS (10), an indication of the kind of teamwork that could lead Montreal to a first-ever win at Toyota Park.
“We’re taking precautions before we face their important players up front,” said Ignacio Piatti. “We have to be focused. Our confidence level is high. We want to grab the points in Chicago, playing better than we did in Dallas and Seattle.”
On the flip side, the Impact has enjoyed some success against the Fire, building a 4-3-4 all-time record. Designated Player Didier Drogba, who should be available for selection by head coach Mauro Biello this Saturday, has already scored four goals in two career games against Chicago.
This will be a homecoming for midfielder Harry Shipp, who will play in Chicago for the first time since the Fire traded him to the Impact on February 13. Shipp, who grew up in nearby Lake Forest, Illinois, had joined the Fire as a Homegrown Player on January 9, 2014.
“The amount of time between that trade happening and now is good,” said Harry Shipp. “I’ve gotten a few games to settle in with the new team, so it’s not going to be weird to go back. I’m looking forward to going back and seeing people that I got used to seeing for a few years there. It’ll be nice to see them again, but I’m going to be feeling a lot better if we come out with a win.”
Hosts on a new path
For the Chicago Fire, starting the 2016 season has been akin to a new beginning. New head coach Veljko Paunovic has welcomed 14 additions to his squad. Only two of these players haven’t made an appearance.
Paunovic’s men have posted a 1-1-3 (6 pts) record, good for sixth in the Eastern Conference. However, they have dropped five points in their first three home games.
This Saturday’s game should be an interesting test for the Impact’s offence; the Fire hasn’t conceded a goal in its last three outings. But over these three games, Chicago has only scored once and probably misses forward David Accam, struggling with a knee injury. Accam has returned to training this week, but his availability for Saturday remains very much in doubt.
Next game
The Montreal Impact’s next game will be its home opener at Stade Saputo on Saturday, April 23, at 4pm EDT against rivals Toronto FC (RDS, TSN, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets, as well as season tickets starting at $98 per month and Pick-4-Packs, are still available on impactmontreal.com.
