New York Red Bulls - Montreal Impact
Saturday, March 31, 2012, 4pm (ET)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
Television: TSN/RDS and available on illico mobile
NEW YORK – The Montreal Impact (0-2-1) will play the second of three consecutive games on the road this Saturday, at 4pm (ET) versus the New York Red Bulls (1-2-0) at Red Bull Arena. The game will be broadcast live on TSN/RDS and will be available on illico mobile.
This will be the club’s fourth game of its inaugural season in MLS, the third away from home, while it will serve as the second home game for the Red Bulls. The Impact lost 2-0 in Columbus last Saturday. Having been red-carded in 19th minute, American defender Jeb Brovsky will miss the game in New York due to an automatic one-game suspension.
WATCH: Pre-game comments
“I’m disappointed for the group because I thought we have played well enough to get a win,” said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. “The players show up every day and put everything into it. They look at this weekend as a chance to show that they are a good team. I would be more worried if we weren’t getting chances, but because we are generating opportunities, I feel it’s only a matter of time before we break through.”
The Red Bulls are coming off their first win of the season last Sunday beating the Colorado Rapids 4-1, in their home opener. Red Bulls forward Kenny Cooper scored twice in that game, and is now second in league scoring with three goals. French international striker Thierry Henry also scored two goals and added one assist versus the Rapids.
Returning to New York
Midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic and goalkeeper Greg Sutton will be playing against their former team. Ubiparipovic played with New York, from 2007 to 2010, registering two goals and five assists in 69 regular season games. In 2008, he helped the club reach the MLS Cup final, after starting all four playoff games. Sutton played for the Red bulls in 2011, going 3-2-5 in 10 starts, recording two shutouts.
“I’ve been looking forward to heading back to New York, it should be a great experience,” said Ubiparipovic. “I still have some friends over there so it will be interesting to compete against them. They have a lot of speed and skillful players, but I think we definitely can compete against them.”
Reserve League
On Sunday, the Impact will again face off against the Red Bulls in a Reserve League matchup, the Impact’s second of the season, set for 12pm (ET), at Montclair State University. In the first game, the Impact won 2-1 versus the Columbus Crew, last Saturday.
Upcoming games
Following the Reserve League game, the Impact will make its way directly to Salt Lake City, Utah, for its next match versus Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, April 4, at Rio Tinto Stadium, 9pm (ET). The game will be broadcast live on TVA Sports and will be available on illico Mobile.
The team will then return to Montreal for a matchup on April 7 against its Canadian rivals, Toronto FC, at Olympic Stadium. Kick off was changed from 1pm to 12pm (ET). The stadium doors will open at 10 am, while the ticket office will open at 9am. The organization invites all supporters to join The Guard to “Defend the North,” as some 1,000 Toronto FC supporters will invade the stands for this matchup.
Season tickets are still available online at impactmontreal.com or by calling 514-328-3668 while individual for all games presented at the Olympic Stadium are also available through the Admission network.
Game Notes
- Impact assistant coach and former MLS midfielder Mike Sorber scored five goals in 76 career games with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, from 1997 to 1999.
- Defender Zarek Valentin is back with the Impact following a stint with the U23 National Team, who was eliminated from the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.
- Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is currently first among MLS goalkeepers with 12 saves and has an honourable mention for the MLS’s Team of the Week for week three.
- The Montreal Impact is currently second among MLS teams with 48 shots and 19 shots on goal, while sitting first in fouls committed with 54.
- These teams faced each other for the very first time last year in a friendly game, on May 11, 2011, when Montreal played in the North American second division. The Impact shut out the Red Bulls 1-0 at Stade Saputo.
- Injury Report: OUT - D Nelson Rivas: Hamstring sprain, F Eduardo Sebrango: Left groin strain. QUESTIONABLE - D Hassoun Camara: Right quad strain
- Goalkeeper Evan Bush returns from an ankle sprain missing the last 10 days of action.
- New York striker Juan Agudelo will not be available as he is recovering from a knee surgery.
