In the first matchup, Wednesday, the Impact beat the Silverbacks 3-1, in front of 13,034 spectators at Saputo Stadium. Mauro Biello (30th minute), Tony Donatelli (42nd) and Roberto Brown (69th) scored for the Impact in that win.
“We have to continue doing well. It’s a little bit awkward to play them again but no matter what the circumstances are, we have to get three points and play for the win,” said Impact head coach John Limniatis. “Atlanta is not a bad team at all, but if we work hard and we are aggressive, we’ll have success again.”
“We have to win both games. We’ve won the first stage Wednesday and we have to do the same on Sunday,” said midfielder Sandro Grande. “We have to take advantage that they will play tonight in Rochester. So we have to come out strong in the first half, pressure them and attack. Hopefully we’ll give the fans another great game like the one they had Wednesday.”
“Sunday’s game will probably be one of our most challenging games of the season,” said goalkeeper Matt Jordan. “They are a very dynamic team offensively with good speed. We have a lot of respect for them and we’re expecting a tough game. We’ll have to be ready from the first minute until the last.”
Since 2002, the Impact has a lifetime record of 11-3-1 (26GF-13GA) in 15 games against the Silverbacks. At home, the Impact never lost in seven games against the Silverbacks (13GF – 2 GA).
Forward Severino Jefferson will be out of the lineup Sunday as he will be serving a one-game suspension after receiving five cautions. Midfielder Patrick Leduc will miss his first game of the season due to an ankle injury. Leduc had played all games since July 13, 2007. Team captain Mauro will be out for an undetermined period after aggravating a heel injury in the last game.
Saturday, at noon, new forwards Gason Gregory and Peter Byers had not received their international transfer.
For the eighth time this season, the Impact will play in front of a sold out crowd, having already sold all 13,034 tickets.
The Impact will then play its first game in the CONCACAF Champions League, on Wednesday, August 27, at Saputo Stadium (8 pm, Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990) against Real Esteli FC, the Nicaraguan champion team.
“From a coaching perspective, yes we think about the future and that is Wednesday’s game but the focus and the main priority is Sunday’s game. Atlanta is a team that we are trying to reach. Each time we get to a team, that means we are doing well and we are getting points. To move up in the standings, you have to win, you can’t just wait for the other teams to lose,” concluded Limniatis.
OTHER FACTS
• The Impact announced Saturday that the club signed midfielder Davy Uwimana for the remainder of the season, pending league's approval. The 23-year old Quebec player, from Burundi, was playing with the Impact reserve team the Trois-Rivières Attak. So far this season, he played four games with the Impact for a total of 274 minutes. He becomes the 26th player on the Impact roster.
• Midfielder Tony Donatelli has scored in the last three games. The team record is five games, feat registered by Grant Needham, in 1993, and Lloyd Barker, in 1995.
• Midfielder Sita-Taty Matondo’s next game will be his 50th career game with the Impact.
• Rookie forward Macoumba Kandji, who leads the Silverbacks with 10 goals and leads the league with 25 points, is out of the lineup due to an ankle injury.
NEXT GAMES
• Wednesday, August 27 – Real Esteli @ IMPACT – 8 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990)
• Saturday, August 30 – IMPACT @ Carolina – 7:30 pm (Radio-Canada, USLlive.com)
• Tuesday, September 2 – IMPACT @ Real Esteli FC – 10 pm (Radio-Canada, 11 pm)
*CONCACAF Champions League
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, Ext. 227
