MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact looks to extend its undefeated streak at home to four games as it hosts D.C. United, the top team in MLS, this Saturday, at 8pm at Stade Saputo.
Excellent tickets are still available via ticketmaster.ca. Don’t miss the crossbar challenge, starting at 6pm on the stadium’s synthetic field, as part of the pre-game festivities.
IMFC is 2-0-1 in its last three games at home, scoring five goals and allowing just one, with two shutouts over that span.
D.C. United’s last two games have been thrilling come from behind victories over the Philadelphia Union and Real Salt Lake, scoring nine goals, which was more than its previous eight games combined.
“They have different characteristics than the New York Red Bulls. For us, more than anything, it’s about recovering as quickly as we can and adjust with the short turnaround,” explained head coach Frank Klopas. “It’s another good opportunity for us at home against a good team.”
Nacho Piatti and Dominic Oduro have been leading the offence lately, with the Argentine registering five goals and one assist in his last seven MLS games, while the Ghanaian striker is currently on a two game goal streak.
“They are another solid team and we have to respect them, but at home we play really well,” explained Oduro. “We need to use that to our advantage and with our crowd behind us, anything is possible.”
The Impact sees Marco Donadel return to the lineup following his one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation, while Laurent Ciman will take his place on the sidelines as he was ejected from Wednesday’s game following two cautions.
These two sides met in a sloppy affair in the Impact’s season opener in Washington, falling 1-0 at RFK Stadium. Since then, D.C. United has stockpiled a record of 12-7-5 in 24 games played, good for 41 points and the league’s top ranking.
“They are the top team in the East and that’s not by chance, as they were also top in our conference last year,” said defender Wandrille Lefèvre. “They are a good team that doesn’t have that one superstar on their roster that they rely on. They are strong as a collective group.”
Chris Rolfe leads the team with eight goals (three assists), while Designated Player Fabian Espindola has two goals and five assists. Former Impact captain Davy Arnaud has three assists so far this season. The red and black also acquired striker Alvaro Saborio from Real Salt Lake during this current summer transfer window.
The Impact will play its next game at Stade Saputo this Wednesday at 7:30pm, against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in the first leg of the Canadian Championship finals aggregate goal series (Tickets: ticketmaster.ca). The decisive game will then be played in Vancouver on August 26. The winner of the series will qualify for the 2016-2017 CONCACAF Champions League.
