THE GAME AT A GLANCE
• The Mariners shut out the Impact 1-0, Friday, in front of 13,044 spectators at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. A goal by Quebecer Félix Brillant at the 70th minute sank the Impact, who suffered a second consecutive loss at home. The Impact is winless in its last four games.
• The Impact remains in first place in USL D1 standings with 44 points, five points ahead of the Rochester Raging Rhinos, before Saturday night's games. Montreal has already clinched a playoff berth.
• This is the 10th meeting between the two teams since the Mariners moved to Virginia Beach, before the start of the 2003 season.
• The Impact has yet to beat the Mariners this 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 record lower than .500 against the Mariners since 2003 (2-3-4).
• This is the fourth and last game between the two teams this season.
THE IMPACT IN SHERBROOKE
• Last year, on August 28, 2005, the Impact shut out the Rochester Raging Rhinos 2-0 in front of 9,519 spectators at Sherbrooke University Stadium.
• On August 22, 2004, in its first-ever regular-season game played in Sherbrooke, the Impact blanked the Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0 before 9,128 fans.
• Montreal is still unbeaten in nine games played “home away from home” (8-0-1).
THE OPPONENT
• The Virginia Beach Mariners are currently fighting for a playoff spot. They are now in 6th place in the United Soccer Leagues First Division with a record of 8-9-8, good for 32 points. The first six teams in the standings will earn a post-season berth.
• The Mariners won Friday their first match in their last seven games (1-4-2).
• 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-GAMES COMMENTS
MIDFIELDER PATRICK LEDUC
“We have a difficult schedule but thankfully, it also allows us to catch up fast. We will want to show tomorrow that we are a better team than the Mariners by getting a good result. We lacked finishing in our last games and it will be important to create more scoring chances. We have to remain patient and things will fall into place.”
DEFENDER GABRIEL GERVAIS
“We must not panic. We want to bounce back from our loss yesterday. We are not scoring and we are making little defensive mistakes that are costly so it will be important to be more focused. It’s great to go play in Sherbrooke. We have a good record there. We will be together this weekend so it’s good for team chemistry. There should be a good crowd to cheer us on as well.”
FORWARD MAURICIO SALLES
“We will have to create more scoring chances if we want to score goals. We will have to play smarter because we need more wins to get a bye for the semi-final round. We have to work together and get our game back, in time for the playoffs.”
FACTS TO FOLLOW
• Impact midfielder Zé Roberto’s season is over. Roberto fractured his tibia, Friday, on a tackle in injury time, for which he was red-carded.
• 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 (24,895 minutes) will soon surpass the 25,000 minutes played mark in his United Soccer Leagues First Division career.
• 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 – Mauricio Vincello (D) – Groin injury August 23 @ TOR – Should be back Sunday
MTL – Zé Roberto (M) – Fractured right tibia August 25 vs VB – Out for the season
MTL - Jason Di Tullio (D) - Knee injury July 21 @ MIN - Out for the season
MTL – Kirk Wilson (M) – Out for personal reasons
NEXT GAMES
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
