Last year, the Impact was eliminated from the playoffs by the Islanders in quarter-finals, 5-3 on aggregate goals. The Impact had won the first game 3-2, September 14 in Montreal, but lost 3-0, September 16, in Puerto Rico.
“It’s kind of a revenge because there was some intimidation against us last year in Puerto Rico and we have to show some pride to bounce back,” said Impact head coach Nick De Santis. “We have to realize that the atmosphere here is unlike anywhere else. It won’t be easy because in addition, they’ve already lost one game at home.
The Impact will also try to bounce back from a 3-2 loss in its last game last Friday, against the Silverbacks in Atlanta.
“We will have to close down the game and cover better,” noted De Santis. The problem is that we are getting away from the little details that we were used to doing. If we clean up these details, we should have a good result.”
“During the last training sessions, we put the emphasis on the defensive aspect of the game,” said midfielder Patrick Leduc, who was named to the league’s Team of the Week, after tallying one goal and one assist in Atlanta. “We went back through moments where we had difficulties. We have to fix these problems right away because we will not win many games if we continue to allow goals on counter-attacks.”
On the opponent side, the Islanders registered a 3-1 win in their last game, Sunday, at home, against the Miami FC.
“We don’t want to give up goals Friday, said defender Adam Braz. We need to balance ourselves in certain situations when we go forward so we don’t get caught then. In the first three games, we have given up the first goal in the first half so we were chasing the game. We have to score first to make the other team open the game, but the Islanders have good players and we have to be aware of the danger.”
Note that veteran defender Nevio Pizzolitto will be out for 6 to 8 weeks due to torn ligaments in the right shoulder, injury that occurred during the last game in Atlanta.
This is the fourth of six straight games on the road, before the Impact’s home opener at Saputo Stadium, Monday, May 19, against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
OTHER FACTS
• Defenders Alex Surprenant and Cédric Joqueviel, as well as midfielders Matthew Palleschi and David Testo (light groin injury) did not make the trip to Puerto Rico.
• The Impact is still undefeated in 11 regular season games against Puerto Rico who with a record of 8-0-3 (15GF-4GA).
• Last year, Puerto Rico finished sixth overall in the United Soccer Leagues First Division. They were eliminated in semi-finals by the Seattle Sounders, in penalty kicks.
• In the playoffs, Impact forward Roberto Brown tallied one goal, as well as one assist on retired defender Mauricio Vincello’s first of two goals.
• Forward Charles Gbeke is only one point away from the 50-point mark in the USL First Division. With 13 goals scored with the Impact, he is ranked 9th in club history.
• Defender Gabriel Gervais is only 49 minutes away from the 13,000-minute played with the Impact mark. He will become the 7th player in club history to achieve this feat.
• This is the first of three games between both teams. The two teams will face each other again in Montreal, at Saputo Stadium, July 6 and August 16.
NEXT GAMES
• Saturday, May 10 – IMPACT @ Minnesota – James Griffin Stadium– 8:05 pm (USLlive.com)
• Wednesday, May 14 – IMPACT @ Charleston – Blackbaud Stadium– 7:30 pm (USLlive.com)
• Monday, May 19 – Vancouver @ IMPACT – SAPUTO STADIUM – 3 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, Ext. 227
