CONTEXT
> The Impact remains undefeated (8-0-4) in 12 games, which ties a club record for the longest undefeated streak, established last season (also 8-0-4).
> Montreal is the only undefeated team in the United Soccer Leagues First Division.
> The Impact allowed only five goals this season and is first in the league.
> In the last game, Impact midfielder Mauro Biello scored two goals as the Impact beat the Richmond Kickers 2-0, on Wednesday, July 6, in front of 10,503 fans at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.
> Impact starters Greg Sutton, Adam Braz, Gabriel Gervais, Sandro Grande, Patrick Leduc and Ali Gerba were unavailable for the game. They were with the Canadian national team at the Gold Cup tournament being held in the United States. They returned with the Montreal team Wednesday, following Canada’s 2-1 win against Cuba, Tuesday. The Canadian team did not qualify for the quarterfinal round. Sutton, Gervais and Grande will be available for Friday night’s game.
IMPACT VS THUNDER
> This is only the third all-time meeting between these two teams.
> On August 24,1997, the Impact won 4-0 against the Thunder in front of 7,527 spectators at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. Midfielder Mauro Biello scored one goal and added an assist.
> Seven days later, the Impact defeated the Thunder again, this time in Minnesota, by a 4-0 score. Forward Darren Tilley scored two goals.
> The Thunder is ranked 10th in the league with 17 points in 14 games.
> The Thunder hasn’t won in its last four games. On July 10, Minnesota tied the Seattle Sounders 2-2 at James Griffin Stadium in its last outing. Midfielder Jeffrey Mateo picked up two assists.
> Forward Johnny Menyongar leads the team in goals (8) and points (17). He is third in the league in points and second in goals.
> Wednesday, in the US Open Cup, the Thunder won 6-4 in overtime against the Real Salt Lake, a Major League Soccer (MLS) club. Menyongar scored one goal and added two assists.
NOTES
> Forward Ali Gerba will not be available for the game against the Kickers. He is serving a one game suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
> Striker Eduardo Sebrango will not be available for tonight’s game. He broke a bone in his right foot, on June 30, in the Impact’s 1-0 win against the Timbers in Portland. He missed the last two games against Seattle and Richmond. He will be out of the line-up for approximately six weeks.
> The Montreal Impact announced on Monday the signing of forwards Carlos Garcia and Rachid Madkour for the remainder of the 2005 season.
> Garcia is a 24 year-old striker from Colombia who has been loaned to the Impact by the Baltimore Blast, a Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) club. Last year, Garcia played with the Virginia Beach Mariners of the United Soccer Leagues First Division. Madkour is 28 years old. Originally from Morocco, this forward has played in the Moroccan first division from 1995 to 2000. He also played on the Moroccan Junior National Team from 1996-1998.
> Garcia will be available for the game in Minnesota.
COMMENTS
Impact head coach Nick De Santis: " We haven’t played in nine days so we’re well-rested and ready to continue our undefeated stretch. We’ll have to play a good game defensively even if the Thunder hasn’t had a lot of success in their last few games. They’ll try to play well offensively in front of their fans, so we hope that the game will open up and that it will lead to some good scoring opportunities."
Antonio Ribeiro: "We don’t know them very well, but we know they have a good team. We have to be ready for every possible scenario against a squad like the Thunder. There’s no doubt we will do everything we can to beat our club record for games without a loss. It's a great motivation for everyone on the club and it's very exciting. The return of some players from the national team will also help. We don't want our undefeated streak to stop."
NEXT GAME
> Montreal will play a two-game series against the Toronto Lynx, Friday, July 22 in Toronto (7:30 pm), and Sunday, July 24 at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex (4 pm, CJAD, CKAC).
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Source: Patrick Vallée
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
