THE GAME AT A GLANCE
• In the last game between the two teams, Wednesday, the Impact shut out the Rhinos 2-0 in front of 13,450 spectators at Claude-Robillard.
• The Impact remains in first place in USL D1 standings with 43 points, eight more than the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Charleston Battery.
• The Impact also leads the league in wins (12), goals against (11), goals-against average (0.52) and shutouts (13).
• Since 1996, the year Rochester joined the league, the Impact has a 21-11-5 lifetime record against the Rhinos.
THE OPPONENT
• The Rochester Raging Rhinos are currently fighting for first place in the United Soccer Leagues First Division. They are presently fourth with a record of 9-3-7, good for 34 points. The first two teams in the standings will earn a post-season berth for the semi-finals.
• The Rhinos are unbeaten in their last four games at home (3-0-1).
• Last year, Rochester finished second overall and was eliminated in the semi-finals (1-3 and 1-1) against the Richmond Kickers.
PRE-GAMES COMMENTS
HEAD COACH NICK DE SANTIS
“It will be a different game tomorrow because they need the three points at home. They have to win because they are under pressure right now. We will try to take advantage of it. I would like to see a similar performance but it will be tougher on the road. We are going to play for the win. With the depth the team has we will probably make changes to our line-up to have fresh legs on the field.”
CAPTAIN MAURO BIELLO
“I’m expecting a different game because they will be playing at home and they want to get some points. In the last game, we controlled the midfield and we moved the ball very well out of the back. Tomorrow we will have to be patient and play well defensively. If we want to win we will have to capitalize on our opportunities.”
MIDFIELDER PATRICK LEDUC
“We are expecting the Rhinos to react after Wednesday’s performance. Even if they didn’t have a big game, we can't anything for granted and we can’t be overconfident. Our strength in the last game was that technically we took advantage of the wings and we controlled those spaces. That's how we scored our first goal. Even if all plays on the wings were not converted into goals,we disorganized them in the middle. If we play the same way Friday, we should dominate the game once again.”
FACTS TO FOLLOW
• Impact captain Mauro Biello, who had an assist on Leonardo Di Lorenzo’s goal Wednesday, is only one point away from the 200-career points mark with the Impact (68G, 63A – 199 PTS).
• The Impact is only 11 goals away from its 500th goal in its history.
OUT OF THE LINE-UP
Team – Player (Position) – Reason – Status
MTL - Daniel Antoniuk (F) – concussion – could be back in Rochester
MTL - Gabriel Gervais (D) – groin – could be back against Charleston Wednesday
MTL - Jason DiTullio (D) – knee - season over
NEXT GAME
Wed. August 16 – Charleston @ Impact – Claude-Robillard Sports Complex – 7:30 pm
Wed. August 23 – Impact @ Toronto – Centennial Stadium – 7:30 pm
Fri. August 25 - Virginia Beach @ Impact - Claude-Robillard Sports Complex – 7:30 pm
Sun. August 27 - Virginia Beach @ Impact – Sherbrooke University Stadium (in Sherbrooke) – 4 pm
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, ext. 27
