THE GAME AT A GLANCE
• In the first match-up, the Impact was shut out 3-0 by the Thunder, Sunday, suffering its first loss of the season on the road (4-1-3).
• With 27 points, the Impact is only three points away from first place in the USL First Division standings, held by the Portland Timbers. The Seattle Sounders are second with 28 points. Three teams are tied in third place: Montreal, Rochester and Vancouver.
• Goalkeeper Andrew Weber (2-2-2) will be in the nets for a third straight game against the Thunder, Wednesday. Having conceded three goals Sunday, his Goals against Average is now 1.091.
• This is the ninth match-up between both teams. The Impact has a 4-2-2 record against the Thunder and outscored the team 16-7.
• On June 5, the Impact and the Thunder played to a 1-1 tie at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. Frederico Moojen had scored the only goal for the Impact in the 41st minute, while Thunder midfielder Jeremiah Bass had scored the tying goal in the 90th minute. Goalkeeper Andrew Weber was in the nets for the Impact.
• After this game, the Impact will be off two weeks before facing the Carolina RailHawks on Wednesday, August 1, at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex, at 7 pm (CJAD 800, USLlive.com).
THE OPPONENT
• This is the 15th game of the season for the Thunder, which has not lost in its last three games.
• In the last game, forward Darren Spicer (31st minute), defender Kevin Taylor (45th) and forward Aaron Paye (80th), on a penalty, scored the three goals for the Thunder.
• The Thunder is 11th in the United Soccer Leagues standings, with only three wins in 14 games so far this season.
• Aaron Paye leads the Thunder with 10 points (4-2-10).
PRE-GAMES COMMENTS
HEAD COACH NICK DE SANTIS
“We want to bounce back from last game’s couterperformance. We analyzed the video of the game and it’s really errors that cost us the match. We will have to be more organized on the field and create more scoring opportunities. With a win and a loss since the beginning of this trip, we now have the opportunity to obtain a good result to get six points out of nine, which would be positive before our two-week break.”
MIDFIELDER ANTONIO RIBEIRO
“We absolutely want to win. We will have to work hard and give all we have Wednesday. We will try to show more discipline defensively than in the last game by denying them scoring opportunities. We will try to take greater advantage of their errors to score. With the loss they inflicted on us, it’s our turn to punish and dominate them.”
OTHER FACTS
• Defender Andres Arango will serve the last of a three-game suspension for an altercation with Anthony Maher in the game against the RailHawks, July 8.
• The Impact is not the only team that is having difficulties staying on top of the USL First division’s standings. The Rochester Rhinos (27 points) have won only one of their last five games (1-3-1). Saturday, the Rhinos lost 4-1 against the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Vancouver Whitecaps (27 points) have not won in their last six games (0-3-3).
• Eight Impact players have reached the 1000 minutes played mark so far this season: Patrick Leduc (1419), Leonardo Di Lorenzo (1382), Mauricio Vincello (1303), Andres Arango (1175), Charles Gbeke (1166), Simon Gatti (1151), Martin Fabro (1070) and Matt Jordan (1035).
• Only three players have appeared in all 17 games this season: defender Simon Gatti, midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo and forward Charles Gbeke. Matthew Palleschi missed his first game of the season on Friday, in Carolina.
• Goalkeeper Matt Jordan, defenders Nevio Pizzolitto, Andres Arango and Jason DiTullio, as well as forward Fabian Dawkins did not travel with the team.
PLAYER INJURIES
Player - Position – Injury – Status – Games missed
David Fronimadis Defender Knee Two weeks 1
Matt Jordan Goalkeeper Jaw 6 to 8 weeks 2
Gabriel Gervais Defender Groin Day to day 7
Nevio Pizzolitto Defender Knee Could return August 1st 17
Jason DiTullio Defender Knee Return unknown 17
NEXT GAME
• Wednesday, August 1 – Carolina @ Impact – Claude-Robillard Sports Complex – 7 pm (CJAD 800, USLlive.com)
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, ext. 27
