A fourth straight Western Conference opponent at home awaits the Montreal Impact on Wednesday night as Canadian rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC will visit Stade Saputo at 8pm EDT in regular season action (tickets: ticketmaster.ca / TV: RDS, TSN: 98.5FM, TSN Radio 690).
A quick turnaround following Saturday’s loss to the Chicago Fire has Frank Klopas and his squad eager to get back on the pitch against the ‘Caps.
“The midweek game is an opportunity to get back on the field and try to put this bad performance behind us quickly,” explained the Impact head coach Frank Klopas. “We know what Vancouver brings to the table, but Wednesday’s game will be about our performance. We have to step in with the right mentality. You can stumble along the way, but it is how you recover that’s important.”
“We are really looking forward to this game,” said midfielder Calum Mallace. “We are moving forward and trying to get the three points Wednesday. Vancouver is a good side with a lot of pace, and being a Canadian opponent, it adds a little something extra to the game.”
With a lot of matches coming up in the month of June (six games in 25 days), IMFC’s depth will be tested, especially considering the rash of injuries that has plagued the team.
Dynamic team
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC is currently in second place in the Western Conference standings with 23 points from 14 games played (7-5-2). The Canadian club has been stingy on the road, with a 3-2-1 record, scoring just three goals and allowing only two over that span, including four shutouts.
“They are a dynamic group with pace and a good attacking phase,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “When they are at their best, they are a very good team. If they have space and time, they are going to hurt you. We have to be ready to step out in the first five or ten minutes and take the game to them as the home team.”
Whitecaps striker Octavio Rivero is in the top 10 in scoring with six goals, but has cooled off lately with only one in his last eight games, after finding the back of the net five times in his first six matches.
Captain Pedro Morales is doing his thing in the midfield (2G, 4A) and goalkeeper David Ousted is in the top five in goals against average (0.93) and second with six shutouts.
The Impact will hit the road for its next matchup against the Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, June 6, at 7:30pm EDT (TVA Sports 2, TSN Radio 690).
