MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact is back in action at Stade Saputo this Saturday at 5pm EDT against the Philadelphia Union. This showdown between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference will be broadcast live on RDS (pregame show at 4:30pm), TSN, 98,5fm and TSN Radio 690 (pregame show at 4pm).
“This is a team that’s working well collectively, on defence and on offence,” said head coach Mauro Biello. “This is a very compact team that moves together as a unit and presses at the right moments. They’ve been doing well. We’re expecting a tough game.”
Tickets for Stade Saputo’s most affordable seats are still available on impactmontreal.com or at the Stade Saputo ticket office, on game day. The club recommends that supporters without a ticket arrive early if they want to buy tickets on site. Please note as well that, given that new security measures have been implemented at all stadium entrances, supporters are encouraged to arrive at their earliest convenience. Doors open at 2:30pm.
The Impact advises supporters to get to Stade Saputo early and to use public transit. Pie-IX Blvd. will be closed in the northbound direction, from Pierre-de-Coubertin Ave. to Mont-Royal Ave., until May 31. Traffic disruptions are also scheduled on Pierre-de-Coubertin Ave., between Jeanne-d’Arc Ave. and Pie-IX Blvd., until early June.
Impact’s attack on a roll
The Eastern Conference-leading Impact (4-3-3, 15 pts – one point ahead of Philadelphia) is firing on all cylinders on the attacking front. Montreal had never scored as many goals 10 games into an MLS season and remains unbeaten when scoring. No other team in the Eastern Conference has scored more goals (17), given more assists (18) or played more multi-goal games (6) or three-goal games (3).
Nacho Piatti has been a spark for the Impact. He is tied for fourth in MLS with six goals scored, for second with two game-winning goals and also for second with two multi-goal games. What’s more, Piatti just won his third AT&T Goal of the Week award this season, for his fabulous strike in a 4-4 tie at Columbus Crew SC, last Saturday. The Impact has picked up almost half of these awards in 2016, as Maxim Tissot also won it for Week 9.
“We want to win at home,” said Ignacio Piatti. “We’ve had other sorts of results at home, and those weren’t enough. It’ll be a tough game, but we’re working with a win in mind. We’re still top of the East.”
Dominic Oduro, who equalized late in Columbus, has scored four goals in 14 games against the Union. Harry Shipp, for his part, has assisted three goals in five games.
Few problems on Union’s hands
The Union (4-3-2, 14 pts) is enjoying a pleasing first third of the season in terms of results – and in the fitness department, as well. Only midfielder Maurice Edu (left tibia stress reaction) has been unavailable lately, and the Union has reached second place in the East, remaining unbeaten at home and picking up one win in four away outings.
“Everybody’s chasing us in the table, and we have to show other teams that come to our home what kind of team that we are,” said Dominic Oduro. “We’re ready for Philadelphia. The locker room is buzzing right now. We just have to go out there and execute.”
The Impact has posted a 4-3-3 MLS record against Jim Curtin’s team, winning all but one of its home games against them. The two teams have scored 27 goals over these 10 games, with 16 of these coming in the last half-hour.
Philadelphia played at its Talen Energy Stadium home on Wednesday night. Vincent Nogueira and Keegan Rosenberry both scored their first goal of the season in a 2-2 draw against the LA Galaxy.
Following games
The Impact will return on the road, playing Orlando City SC on Saturday, May 21, at 7:30om EDT at Camping World Stadium (RDS, TSN, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690).
The LA Galaxy will be the visitors for the following home game, on Saturday, May 28, at 8pm EDT (RDS, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). The Impact would like to remind supporters that this game has been rescheduled from Sunday, May 29, and that all tickets dated May 29 for this game will be valid at all Stade Saputo entrances on May 28. Excellent individual tickets, as well as season tickets and Pick-4-Packs, are still available on impactmontreal.com.
