THE GAME AT A GLANCE
• With 50 points, the Impact is second in the USL D1 standings, tied with the Portland Timbers, one point behind de Seattle Sounders, which shut out the California Victory 4-0 Thursday. The three teams have one last game to play this season.
• The Impact is guaranteed to end the season among the top three teams in the standings and will play its two quarter-final games next week, against an opponent yet to be determined.
• The Impact has lost only once in its last 10 games (7-1-2).
• Forward Charles Gbeke, who was playing with the Rhinos last year, scored four goals in three games against his former team. He leads the USL First Division with 10 goals, tied with Seattle Sounders forward Sébastien Letoux, and the Impact with 21 points.
• Since 1996, the year Rochester joined the league, the Impact has a 24-12-5 lifetime record against the Rhinos.
• This is the fourth and last game between both clubs this season.
• In the last game between the two teams, August 31, two goals from Charles Gbeke (9th and 35th minute) allowed the Impact to shut out Rochester 2-0, at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. The Impact also shut out the Rhinos 1-0 in Montreal, on August 5, and 2-0 in Rochester, August 24.
THE OPPONENT
• This is also the last game of the season for the Rhinos.
• The Rhinos are second in the USL First Division in terms of goals scored, with 37.
• Rochester is now fifth in the USL D1 standings with 39 points, tied with the Puerto Rico Islanders.
• Rookie forward Hamed Diallo leads the Rhinos with nine goals and is sixth among the league’s leaders in points, with 19.
PRE-GAMES COMMENTS
HEAD COACH NICK DE SANTIS
“This last game is very important for us. We want to give a good performance in Rochester because it’s a team that we could face in the playoffs. So far this season, we have played well against the Rhinos, but we have to stay alert because they have scored many goals this season. Also, it will be important to avoid any injuries for the playoffs.”
MIDFIELDER PATRICK LEDUC
“We want to end the second half of the season on a positive note with a win in Rochester, Saturday. We want to keep the good rhythm that we have maintained during the last games to bring that energy into the playoffs. We also want a victory to be in a better ranking in the standings, in order to face an opponent in lesser condition.”
OTHER FACTS
• Matt Jordan became the third goalkeeper in Impact history to earn at least 10 shutouts in a season. Paolo Ceccarelli (1996 - 13 shutouts) and Greg Sutton (2002 – 10, 2003 – 11, 2004 – 16 and 2005 –15) also clinched the mark.
• With 14 shutouts this season, the Impact has shut out its opponent in more than 50% of its games (14 of 27) for a fourth straight season. Montreal had 19 shutouts in 2004 (68%) and 16 shutouts in the 2005 and 2006 seasons (57%).
• Simon Gatti (1973 minutes) and David Testo (1967 minutes) could reach the 2000-minutes played mark this season. Five players have reached this mark so far: Patrick Leduc (2303 minutes), Leonardo Di Lorenzo (2205 minutes), Mauricio Vincello (2113 minutes), Luis Aguilar (2050 minutes) and Joey Gjertsen (2027 minutes).
• Defender David Fronimadis will miss the game in Rochester because he will serve a one-game suspension after accumulating five yellow cards.
• Forward Roberto Brown is currently with the Panama National Team to play two friendly games against Mexico (September 9) and Venezuela (September 12). He could be back for the first game of the playoffs.
• The Impact has a 7-1-1 record since the July 30 roster freeze when the team acquired Joey Gjertsen, David Testo, Luis Aguilar and Roberto Brown.
• The Impact has a 14-0-2 record when it scores the first goal in a game. On the other hand, the Impact has a 0-5-4 record when it allows the first goal.
PLAYOFF BOUND
• The first eight out of 12 teams in the standings will take part in the playoffs and unlike last year, a bye will no longer be awarded for finishing first or second. The top seeded team will square off against the eighth, the second against the seventh – and so on – in a home and away series on total goals scored. The quarterfinal games should be played September 14 and 16. After the quarterfinal round, teams will be reseeded according to their place in the final standings, with the top remaining seeds playing against the lowest ones. The semi-final games should be played September 21 and 23. The single-game championship final will take place September 29.
• If there is a tie between two teams in the standings, the following tie-breakers will determine the final standings: 1-The results between both teams (except if it is a three-way tie and the three teams have not played the same number of game against each other). 2-Greatest wins. 3-Goal differential. 4-Goals scored. 5-Percentage of points against the other tying team
• Tickets for the upcoming playoffs (quarterfinal games only) are on sale. Tickets are available at the Montreal Impact office at 514-328-3668 or through the Admission Network. Prices for tickets (taxes included) are $25 for reserved seating, $10 (adults) and $5 (children) for general admission.
PLAYER INJURIES
Player - Position – Injury – Status – Games missed
Nevio Pizzolitto Defender Thigh Approx. 1week 2
Andres Arango Defender Ribs Day to day 3
Mauro Biello Midfielder Elbow Approx. 1 week 4
Frederico Moojen Forward Sports hernia Season over 6
Jason DiTullio Defender Knee Season over 27
NEXT GAMES
• Two games - quarter-finals aggregate goals series – between September 12 and 16 (opponent to be determined)
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, ext. 27
