THE GAME AT A GLANCE
• It is the third of four match-ups between both teams this season.
• In the last meeting at home between the two teams, on July 8, in Sherbrooke, the Impact and the RailHawks played to a 2-2 tie. Forward Charles Gbeke scored both goals, completing passes from defender Gabriel Gervais. Then, on July 13, a goal from Antonio Ribeiro led the Impact to a 1-0 shutout against the RailHawks, in Carolina. The two teams will meet again on August 26, at SAS Park.
• With 28 points, the Impact is now in sixth place in the United Soccer League First Division standings.
•After remaining undefeated in the first eight games of the season, (4-0-4), the Impact played below the ,500 (3-4-3) mark during the 10 following games.
• Goalkeeper Andrew Weber (2-2-3, GAA 1,077) will be in nets, Wednesday, for a fourth straight game. His next game will be his 22nd career game with the Impact, tying Paul Shepherd for fifth place for the most games played. Weber has nine career shutouts.
• Impact head coach Nick De Santis should be able to count on a few players who are back from injuries: defenders Gabriel Gervais (groin), Nevio Pizzolitto (knee) and David Fronimadis (knee).
THE OPPONENT
• This is the 20th game of the season for the RailHawks.
• The RailHawks have not won in their last seven games (0-5-2). Last Saturday, the RailHawks lost 4-1 at home against the Miami FC.
• The RailHawks are 10th in the United Soccer Leagues standings, with only four wins so far this season.
• Midfielder Kupono Low leads the club with 5 goals (5-2-12).
PRE-GAMES COMMENTS
DEFENDER GABRIEL GERVAIS
“After two weeks off, we want to start off on the right foot. There were sparks in our first game against them and the second game was very tight. We are expecting another tough game because they are fighting for a playoff spot. We have to recover our rhythm by not conceding anything in the back. In front, it was a battle all year long, but we have to create chances and be more efficient with the last pass. And there’s no doubt that we want a good result at home.”
GOALKEEPER ANDREW WEBER
“It’s exciting to have some of the center backs returning to the lineup. Hopefully, we will be able to get organized and fired up for this last stretch. I think what we need is team unity and to fight as a team, and the positive results will come. With the new acquisitions coming in along with the players that have been on the team, it should help. I don’t think our problem is keeping the ball out of the net as much as to put it in it.”
MIDFIELDER MATTHEW PALLESCHI
“It will be another physical game considering the two very intense games we played against them. They are a great team, but we trained hard and we want the win on Wednesday. The last games of the season are all very important because all the teams are close in the standings. We know what the problems are and we’ve talked about it. Everybody should raise their level of play, which would help us in the upcoming games.”
OTHER FACTS
• The Impact announced, Monday, that it had come to terms with forward Roberto Brown (Colorado Rapids, MLS), defender Luis Aguilar (California Victory, USL D1) and goalkeeper Jon Paul Piques (SC Braga, Portugal D2), before the July 30 roster freeze, pending approval from the league. The Impact also called up defender Alex Surprenant from the Trois-Rivières Attak (CSL) and released Argentinean midfielder Martin Fabro.
• The Impact also acquired forward Joey Gjertsen and midfielder David Testo from the Vancouver Whitecaps, on July 26, in return for midfielder Zé Roberto and forward Alen Marcina. Gjertsen (4958 minutes) and Testo (4919 minutes) will soon reach the 5000 minutes played mark in the USL.
• More than 2,000 people from the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Soccer Association and more than 1,000 people from the Lanaudière Soccer Association will attend Wednesday’s game.
PLAYER INJURIES
Player - Position – Injury – Status – Games missed
Massimo Di Ioia Forward Light concussion Day to day 0
David Fronimadis Defender Knee Should return Wednesday 2
Matt Jordan Goalkeeper Jaw 6 to 8 weeks 3
Gabriel Gervais Defender Groin Should return Wednesday 8
Nevio Pizzolitto Defender Knee Should return Wednesday 18
Jason DiTullio Defender Knee Return unknown 18
ELSEWHERE IN THE LEAGUE
• Wednesday, August 1 – Portland @ Seattle – Qwest Field – 10 pm
NEXT GAME
• Sunday, August 5 – Rochester @ Impact – Claude-Robillard Sports Complex – 4 pm (Radio-Canada, Sirius, CJAD 800, USLlive.com)
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, ext. 27
