THE GAME AT A GLANCE
• In its last game, Wednesday, the Impact tied the Toronto Lynx 1-1 at Centennial Stadium.
• The Impact remains in first place in USL D1 standings with 44 points, five points ahead of the Rochester Raging Rhinos.
• The Impact has already mathematically clinched a playoff spot. Six teams will take part in post-season play, with the top two teams earning a bye into the semi-final round. The quarter-final round of the USL D1 playoffs will take place September 15 and 17, the semi-finals will be played September 22 and 24. Winners of each round will be determined on total goals scored. The final is slated for September 30.
• This is the fifth consecutive season the Impact has qualified for the playoffs since the team's re-launch in 2002, the 10th in its 13-year existence.
• This is the 9th meeting between the two teams since the Mariners moved to Virginia Beach, before the start of the 2003 season.
• In the first two games of the season between both teams, on August 4 and 6 in Virginia Beach, the Impact tied the Mariners 1-1 in both matches.
• The Impact has a .500 record against the Mariners since 2003 (2-2-4).
• This is the third of four games between the two teams this season. The two clubs will face each other again this Sunday, in Sherbrooke.
• The Impact will host its 1,000,000th spectator Friday. Since 1993, the Impact has welcomed 994,750 fans to its regular-season home games.
• The Impact’s last two home games at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex, this Friday against Virginia Beach and Friday, September 8 against the Toronto Lynx, are sold out.
THE OPPONENT
• The Virginia Beach Mariners are currently fighting for a playoff spot. They are in 9th place in the United Soccer Leagues First Division with a record of 7-9-8, good for 29 points. The first six teams in the standings will earn a post-season berth.
• The Mariners have not won in their last six games (0-4-2).
• Virginia Beach has conceded 11 goals in their last three games.
• The Mariners missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. Last year, Virginia Beach finished in 11th place among 12 teams, with a record of 7-14-7.
PRE-GAME COMMENTS
DEFENDER LARS LYSSAND
"We have to get some goals because we scored only once in the last three games. We are not playing bad soccer but we have to go out and do it, not only say it. We have to be more aggressive in the opponent’s zone and around the net. Team confidence is still high and we want to win both games against the Mariners."
MIDFIELDER PATRICK LEDUC
“The Mariners are struggling lately but no matter what team we play against, we want to have success and get out of our slump. We need better results. What’s encouraging is that we played well in the second half in Toronto. We’re dynamic and more alert, so I hope we will keep carry that over to the next games.”
GOALKEEPER GREG SUTTON
“We are still optimistic because we are certainly not in a bad position in the standings but we have to start playing better soccer. It’s crunch time so we have to help each other out. We’ll have to show more aggressiveness and make sure that we take our responsibilities on our shoulders.”
IN OTHER NOTES
• Forward Massimo Di Ioia has been selected by the U-20 Canadian national neam for two friendly games against Belgium on September 2 and 4, in St. Truidense and Maasmechelen.
• Impact defender Nevio Pizzolitto will be back in the line-up after sitting out the last game because of an accumulation of cards.
• Defender Mauricio Vincello, who received his fifth yellow card of the season against Toronto, Wednesday, will have to sit a game out, probably next week's August 31 match-up in Portland.
FACTS TO FOLLOW
• Impact captain Mauro Biello is only one point away from the 200-career points mark with the Impact (68G, 63A – 199 PTS). He is the club’s all-time leading scorer.
• Biello (24,833 minutes) will surpass the 25,000 minutes played mark in his United Soccer Leagues First Division career.
• Defender Mauricio Vincello is only 88 minutes away from surpassing Lyndon Hooper (6,190 minutes) at the 14th spot on the all-time Impact minutes played list.
• The Impact is only 10 goals away from the 500th goal in its history.
OUT OF THE LINE-UP
Team – Player (Position) – Reason – Status
MTL – Antonio Ribeiro (M) – Groin injury – Day to day
MTL - Jason Di Tullio (D) - Knee injury July 21 @ MIN - Out for the season
MTL – Kirk Wilson (M) – Out for personal reasons
NEXT GAMES
Sun. August 27 – V. Beach @ Impact – Sherbrooke University Stad. – 4 pm (Sport Plus XM-172, CJAD 800)
Thur. August 31 – Impact @ Portland – PGE Park – 10 pm
Fri. Sept. 8 - Toronto @ Impact - Claude-Robillard Sports Compl. – 7:30 pm (CJAD 800, Sport Plus XM-172)
(end of regular season)
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, ext. 27
