CONTEXT
> This is the second match of a two-game series against the Islanders. These same two teams also played Sunday in Quebec City.
> With a win tonight over the Islanders, the Impact would mathematically clinch a playoff spot. Six teams will take part in post-season play, with the top two teams earning a bye into the semifinal round.
> Captain Mauro Biello has accumulated 19,992 career minutes played with the Impact, a club record he continues to improve. He could soon become the first player in Impact history to hit the 20,000 minutes played mark.
> The Impact has the best defence in the league, with only 11 goals allowed in 20 games (average of 0.55 per game).
IMPACT VS PUERTO RICO
>A goal by Mauro Biello at the 89th minute allowed the Impact to clinch a 2-1 win against the Puerto Rico Islanders, Sunday, at Laval University’s PEPS Stadium, in Quebec City, in front of 12,128 spectators. Lars Lyssand scored his first goal of the season, opening the scoring. Goalkeeper Greg Sutton finally earned his 61st career victory with the Impact, breaking the old club record held by Paolo Ceccarelli.
> The Impact has not lost to the Islanders in six all-time meetings (5-0-1) since Puerto Rico’s inception into the league, last year.
> In those six games, Montreal has allowed only two goals and scored eleven.
> The Impact opened the season with a two-game set in Puerto Rico, tying the first game 1-1 on April 29 on a goal by defender Mauricio Vincello, and then winning the following match-up on May 1 by a 3-0 score, with goals coming from former Impact forward Kevin Wilson (2), and midfielder Antonio Ribeiro.
> This is the second game of a six-game road stretch, which is slated to end on August 27 in Vancouver, against the Whitecaps.
> The Islanders are the second best offensive squad in the league with an average of 1.60 goals a game, scoring 32 goals in 20 games played.
> Following his red card in last Sunday’s game, Islanders defender Chris Gores will not be available for tonight’s match.
NOTES
> Captain Mauro Biello is the Impact’s leading scorer (7-3-17). He sits in seventh place in league scoring. Biello has scored seven goals in the Impact’s last nine games, five of which were game-winning goals.
> Defender Gabriel Gervais won’t be available for Wednesdays’ game as a result of a leg injury suffered during the game against the Portland Timbers, August 10.
> Midfielder Zé Roberto suffered a knee sprain on July 29, against the Atlanta Silverbacks. He is expected to be sidelined 4 to 6 weeks.
> Forward Eduardo Sebrango has missed the Impact’s last 10 games with a fractured bone in his right foot. He suffered the injury on June 30, in a 1-0 victory over the Timbers in Portland. He is expected to return sometime this month.
PRE-MATCH COMMENTS
Head coach Nick De Santis: “Team moral is really good right now, especially after our last-minute win in Quebec City. We have to take advantage of that to get a positive result Wednesday. We have other important games ahead in the next few days, so we have to do well against the Islanders. On a possibility of 24 points that we can get until the end of the season, a dozen should be enough to clinch first or second place overall."
Mauro Biello: " There will be a lot of emotions against the Islanders. We played very well at the end of the game, Sunday, but we need to perform for 90 minutes because they will be looking to bounce back after their loss. They are still fighting for a playoff spot and they will give it their all to earn points in the standings. They will be ready and we will have to be as well. "
UPCOMING GAMES
> The Impact visit the Rochester Raging Rhinos at Frontier Field on Saturday, August 20 (CJAD, CKAC), in a game slated to kick off at 8 :05 pm instead of the previously scheduled starting time of 7:35 pm. The next game at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex will be on Friday, August 26 against the Virginia Beach Mariners (8 :00 pm, RDS, FSW, CKAC).
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Source: Patrick Vallée
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
