"We’re a first-place team, so teams expect us to be hard to beat, and we want to live up to that game in, game out," said DeSantis, a day after his team beat the Whitecaps 3-0 in Vancouver to extend its unbeaten streak to eight games (7-0-1), a new club record — and the club’s best start ever.
"So far, our approach has been good for every game, and we’re not going to take this one lightly, especially when you consider that we’ll have only one day’s rest and that we’ll be playing on artificial turf. Plus, Calgary may only have one win, but they’ve played close games, so hanging back is out of the question.
"We’re going to play our usual attacking, disciplined game."
Considering the Impact will be playing its second game in three days, the team’s depth will once again be put to the test. DeSantis seems at ease on that front as well, all the more given the fact that his squad won by a three-goal margin, Friday in Vancouver, in spite of the absence of Mauro Biello, injured to the right quadriceps, and Patrick Leduc, suspended for one game.
"All of our guys understand our system well," said DeSantis. "They know their position, they want to play, and they go out on the field with confidence."
Antonio Ribeiro, for example, played in Biello’s place against the Whitecaps and scored (27th minute) in addition to setting up Joel Bailey’s first of two goals for the night (44th, 79th).
"Antonio took Mauro’s spot and scored a goal, and Joel scored two great goals as well," said DeSantis. "It was an overall solid performance. Vancouver is an attacking team, but we kept our defensive shape and we put them in danger by going forward."
Goalkeeper Greg Sutton’s shutout against the Whitecaps was his seventh in eight starts this season, allowing him to tie the club record of 34 career shutouts, first established by Paolo Ceccarelli. Sutton came up with big saves at the 6th minute on a header by David Xausa, and at the 53rd, blocking Steve Kindel’s shot with one hand. He also stopped Kevin Harmse from close in at the 69th.
The Impact’s three-game road trip in Western Canada will conclude Tuesday in Edmonton, against the Aviators (10 pm).
-30-
SOURCE:
bcomm
INFO:
Stéphane Banfi
514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
