ORLANDO, Florida – This weekend should draw a more complete picture of the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, and the Montreal Impact could get a better idea of what’s ahead as soon as this Sunday, when it takes on Orlando City SC at Camping World Stadium at 1pm (TVA Sports [pregame show at 12:30pm], ESPN & CJAD 800 AM [pregame show at 12:50pm]).
“This is going to be a difficult game, as we are taking on a team that’s fighting for their lives,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We have to be ready for everything. Orlando will take risks with how they go forward. We must deny them space and then try to hurt them with our offensive pieces.”
Playoff berth could be within reach for Bleu-blanc-noir
The Impact could clinch an MLS Cup Playoffs berth this Sunday with a win against Orlando, should Columbus Crew SC and New England Revolution not win their respective games on Saturday.
This game against the Lions will be a third fixture in nine days for the Impact, which put together an encouraging defensive performance in a 1-0 loss at New York Red Bulls, last Saturday. The Bleu-blanc-noir then displayed its attacking efficiency on Wednesday night, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes by a 3-1 scoreline at Stade Saputo.
“Those points in midweek were massive, when you look at results around the league,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “Orlando is still hanging on by a thread. We’re still in a fight for the playoffs. But we can breathe a bit easier, and it relieves some of that stress, so we can express ourselves a little more openly on the field.”
The Montreal backline will lose two players to suspension on Sunday. Central defender Víctor Cabrera has been automatically suspended for one game due to yellow card accumulation, while right back Hassoun Camara has picked up a one-game suspension for a tackle on San Jose’s Alberto Quintero on Wednesday.
Orlando refuses to abandon hope
Although they sit in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, five points from a 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs spot with three games left to play, the Lions are still hopeful that they will make it to the postseason. But despite a fine 0-0 draw in Toronto on Wednesday night, Orlando could be eliminated from contention this Sunday should they not win against Montreal, if D.C. United picks up a win at TFC on Saturday.
“We have to see this game as a chance to clinch a spot,” said defender Wandrille Lefèvre. “We managed to win an important home game this week. We have to carry on and try to enter the playoffs as early as possible. It would do everyone a lot of good.”
The Impact’s record against the Lions stands at one win, three losses and one tie. The Bleu-blanc-noir has yet to win at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, but has scored every time it played there, through Dominic Oduro (two goals in five career games against Orlando) and Nacho Piatti (two tallies in four appearances).
Suspended because of yellow card accumulation, winger Brek Shea will miss this Sunday’s game. Shea, who scored against Montreal on September 7, has appeared in 27 of Orlando’s 31 games this season.
Following games
The Impact will play its last home game of the regular season at Stade Saputo on Sunday, October 16, at 3pm against rivals Toronto FC. This game was initially scheduled for 5pm, but all tickets with the original time for this game will be valid at all Stade Saputo entrances on October 16, starting at 1:30pm. Excellent individual tickets are still available for this game on impactmontreal.com.
The Impact will finish its regular season on Sunday, October 23, at 4pm in Massachusetts against the New England Revolution.
