MONTREAL – Standing in fourth place in a competitive Eastern Conference, the Montreal Impact takes on a direct rival this Saturday afternoon as Kei Kamara and the New England Revolution come to Stade Saputo. Kickoff for this game presented by Husqvarna is scheduled for 5:30pm EDT (RDS [pregame show at 5pm], TSN, 98,5fm [pregame show at 5pm] & TSN Radio 690 [pregame show at 5pm]).
“When you play at home versus an Eastern Conference team, you have to be able to get maximum points and try to stop them in the standings,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We recognize the importance of this game and what it would do for us not only in the standings, but also emotionally, to get a win.”
Excellent tickets are still available for this game on impactmontreal.com. The Impact advises supporters to get to Stade Saputo early and to use public transit. Pie-IX Blvd. will be partially closed in the northbound direction, from Pierre-de-Coubertin Ave. to Mont-Royal Ave., preventing vehicles from turning right on Sherbrooke East St. Traffic disruptions are also scheduled on Pierre-de-Coubertin Ave., between Viau St. and Pie-IX Blvd., until the end of the season.
Please also take note of the full implementation of new security measures upon entering the stadium, starting this Saturday. All bag larger than 35 cm x 35 cm x 15 cm are prohibited. The full rules and regulations can be viewed on impactmontreal.com.
As part of the IMFC Multicultural Day, food concession stands will offer dishes inspired by various cultures. Percussionists will also be on hand to contribute to the pregame atmosphere.
The attack back on track
After two 0-0 draws, the Impact’s attack refound its groove last Saturday against Sporting Kansas City. Lucas Ontivero, on a splendid build-up, and Nacho Piatti, from the penalty spot, scored for the Bleu-blanc-noir.
The Impact’s current offensive record is the second-best in club history in terms of goals scored in MLS after 15 games. Montreal has tallied 24 times – four more than at the same point last season. Piatti, the team’s top scorer with nine goals, has scored in each of his last three MLS appearances.
“New England has good players, a solid midfield, a forward like Kei Kamara up top, but we also have the players to find a win,” said forward Dominic Oduro. “They’re a conference rival. We have to start winning games. We want three points.”
The Impact has also posted its second-best defensive record in club history thus far with 22 goals conceded in MLS in 15 games. This represents an improvement of three goals compared to last season at the same stage.
Should he play this Saturday, team captain Patrice Bernier would make his 187th appearance for the club since 2000, taking sole ownership of sixth place in the Matches Played column. The all-time leader is the current Impact head coach, Mauro Biello, who played 344 games for the Impact. Hassoun Camara, who played his 10,000th minute for the club last Saturday, could make his 100th MLS appearance.
Kei Kamara, again
The Impact will catch up with familiar foe Kei Kamara, this Saturday, nearly two months after witnessing his last game for Columbus Crew SC from up close. On May 7, Montreal got a 4-4 tie at Columbus after Kamara and Federico Higuaín got caught in an argument over a penalty kick. Traded five days later to the New England Revolution, Kamara opened his account for the Revs on Wednesday night in a 3-2 win at New York Cosmos in the U.S. Open Cup.
The Bleu-blanc-noir was successful last season against the Revolution, winning twice and tying once without ever conceding a goal. The team’s all-time record against the Revs stands at six wins, three losses and two ties.
“New England is a very good team, but we’ve played against good teams, and we’ve handled them pretty well,” said midfielder Kyle Bekker. “We have to have the same mentality, be compact, don’t lose the ball and be tough to break down.”
Goalkeeper Evan Bush, whose next clean sheet will be his 25th since joining the Impact in 2011, is undefeated in four career games against the Revs. Bush is also the only Montreal player to have played every minute this season.
The Revolution played many regulars in the Cup and are still waiting on the returns of defender Donnie Smith (hamstring), midfielder Gershon Koffie (knee) and forwards Charlie Davies (adductor) and Femi Hollinger-Janzen (hamstring).
Following games
The MLS season next takes the Impact to the Western United States for two games in five days, first on Saturday, July 9, at 10pm EDT against Real Salt Lake, and then on Wednesday, July 13, at 10:30pm against the Portland Timbers (both games broadcast on TVA Sports & TSN Radio 690).
The Bleu-blanc-noir will return to Stade Saputo on Sunday, July 17, at 5pm EDT to take on David Villa, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and New York City FC (RDS, TSN, ESPN, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets are still available for this game on impactmontreal.com.
