In the first game, Friday in Rochester, the two clubs tied 1-1. Defender Danny Earls scored for the Rhinos in the 58th minute and Impact midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo tied the game with his second goal of the season in the 67th minute. The Impact dominated the Rhinos 14-6 in shots at goal.
“I think that Sunday’s game will be different from Friday’s game because we will play in Montreal,” said defender Simon Gatti. “I think that we have to play even more offensively in order to get points in the standings. On the road, a tie game is not a bad result but at home, we want the win by giving as well a good match to our fans.”
“We are expecting to win at home,” said midfielder David Testo. “We were a little bit disappointed with the result Friday with only one point on the road. It should be another hard game but we are hoping a better outcome at home by scoring on our chances.
At home, the Impact has a record of 17-1-2 (34GF - 4GA) against the Rhinos. Their single win was on June 14, 1998. The Impact had lost by shut out 1-0. The Impact has shut out the Rhinos in the last 14 games played in Montreal. The Rhinos scored their last goal July 23, 2000.
But the Rhinos have lost only once in their last 12 games (6-1-5).
“It’s a very important game because all games until the end of the season are like a finale for us,” said Rocco Placentino, who played as forward Friday. “We have to score, get the win and the three points. We have to come out even stronger because this time we are playing at home.”
The Impact will play its first game at home since having won the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, last Tuesday, in Toronto.
“It’s nice coming back home with the trophy and a lot more confidence,” added Testo. “We are looking forward to present it to the fans at Saputo Stadium. It’s a great motivation for the rest of the season and we needed that confidence. It will certainly be a lift for us.”
Impact midfielder Pato Aguilera, who played with the Rhinos in 2004 and 2005, played Friday his second 90-minute game of the season.
Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan has played the last 18 games: the last 14 regular-season games and the four Nutrilite Canadian Championship games. He is currently third in the league with a goal allowed average of 0.812.
This is the second of three matchups between both teams. The two teams will face each other at Saputo Stadium September 3.
OTHER FACTS
• Since the Rhinos’ arrival in the league in 1996, the Impact has a record of 24-13-6 against its rivals from Rochester.
• Two former Impact players are playing with the Rhinos, midfielder Zé Roberto (3-2-8) and forward Mauricio Salles (4-2-10). Zé Roberto suffered a knee injury against Seattle, July 18.
• Team captain Mauro Biello underwent wrist surgery, Friday. He should be out of the lineup for only two weeks.
• Defender Adam Braz, who got a thigh injury July 22 in Toronto, should be out of the lineup for three weeks.
• The Impact has an average of 12,961 tickets sold after eight regular season games at Saputo Stadium, a league high.
NEXT GAMES
• Friday, August 8 – IMPACT @ Carolina – 7:30 pm (USLlive.com)
• Saturday, August 16 – IMPACT @ Portland – 10 pm (USLlive.com)
• Wednesday, August 20 – Atlanta @ IMPACT – 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
• Sunday, August 24 – Atlanta @ IMPACT – 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, Ext. 227
