Last Sunday, the Impact signed a third consecutive win without conceding a goal, winning 3-0 against the Carolina RailHawks, at Saputo Stadium. It was a third win in as many games for new Impact head coach John Limniatis.
“I’m expecting a difficult trip,” said Limniatis. “We will face two excellent teams on the road so it will be a good test for us. Right now, the team’s confidence is good and we continue to make progress so it’s positive.”
“We have the momentum after winning our last three games without conceding a goal,” said defender Adam Braz. “Our confidence is high individually and collectively and it shows on the field. But we have to stay humble because we will now face two very good teams that play always well at home. We have to do certain things better and work hard but we certainly have to continue to play the same way and believe in the message of our new head coach."
In its last game of the tournament, June 17, the Impact shut out the Whitecaps 2-0, at Saputo Stadium. Severino Jefferson and Joey Gjertsen scored the two goals for the Impact, while goalkeeper Matt Jordan registered the shutout after making seven saves. In the first game of the Canadian championship, May 27, the Impact lost 1-0 against the Toronto FC (1-0-0; 3 pts; 1GF-0GA), in Montreal.
“We want to maintain the momentum from our last wins to collect more points against Vancouver in order to improve our position in the Canadian championship standings, because we will have no control over what will happen in the two games between Vancouver and Toronto,” said midfielder Patrick Leduc, the Impact player who has played the most so far this season with 1,058 minutes of play. “It will be a good time to come together as a team on the road with our new coach. It will be a new dynamic and we want to translate this energy into good results away from home.”
During the regular season, the Impact was shut out 1-0 at Swangard Stadium, April 12. The two teams had tied 0-0, May 19, in the home opener at Saputo Stadium.
Three Impact players have been selected to the USL First Division Team of the Week (Week 10): goalkeeper Matt Jordan, defender Cédric Joqueviel and forward Roberto Brown.
The Impact will play a second game on the West Coast, this Saturday, June 28, against the Seattle Sounders, at 11 pm (USLlive.com) and will be back in Montreal Sunday.
NUTRILITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
• The Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps are facing each other in a six-game tournament for a spot in the newly formed CONCACAF Champions League. The tournament winner will then face in a home-and-away series the Nicaraguan champion team. The team who finishes first will also be awarded the Voyageurs Cup trophy.
• The Whitecaps are playing their second game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.
• The Impact will play its last and fourth game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, July 22, at BMO Field, in Toronto.
• The Whitecaps and the Toronto FC will match up July 1 in Toronto and July 9 in Vancouver.
OTHER FACTS
• Midfielders Antonio Ribeiro, Pato Aguilera and Cristian Nuñez, as well as forward Charles Gbeke did not make the trip.
• Since 1993, the year Vancouver joined the league (the 86ers eventually became the Whitecaps), the Impact has a regular season lifetime record of 20-8-5 against its Canadian rivals.
• Vancouver has not won in its last three games (0-1-2). After losing in Rochester and Montreal, the Whitecaps tied the Miami FC 1-1, Sunday, at Swangard Stadium.
• Forward Eduardo Sebrango leads the Whitecaps in goals and points with four goals and 10 points, in 12 regular season games.
NEXT GAMES
• Saturday, June 28 – IMPACT @ Seattle – Starfire Complex – 11 pm (USLlive.com)
• Sunday, July 6 – Puerto Rico @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 3:30 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
*Nutrilite Canadian Championship
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, Ext. 227
