Impact trails 2-1 after the first leg
MONTREAL – This Tuesday evening at 7:30pm, the Montreal Impact will try to make another step towards the Voyageurs Cup, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC are in town for the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinals (TICKETS – RDS, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). The Bleu-blanc-noir currently trails by one goal on aggregate after the away leg, having lost 2-1 at BC Place this past Tuesday night.
“We have to be focused for the whole game and play with the same mentality as we had in the second half last Tuesday,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We all have responsibilities on the field, now we have to execute. These two-legged series are tricky. We cannot be too offensive or too defensive. We have to be able to balance it out, play a smart game and control it on both ends. If we achieve this, we will have a good chance to progress.”
“We have to start this game with the right foot forward. We want to prove that we are the best team in Canada and we want to win this trophy for the city,” said forward Dominic Oduro. “We have players who are rested, but it does not mean anything, we have to be strong from the start. We also have to be strong mentally. Tomorrow, we have to work and show our worth.”
The Impact recommends that supporters use public transit and get to the stadium early – doors open at 6pm. Due to transformation work at the corner of Pie-IX Blvd. and Sherbrooke St., traffic delays may occur in the Olympic Park area, notably on Charlemagne Ave., Rachel St., and Jeanne-d’Arc St.
As always, the Bag Policy will be in effect. All backpacks, camera bags and large tote bags, as well as all bags bigger than 35 cm x 35 cm x 15 cm are prohibited.
Please also note that parking entrances have changed names since last season. Entrance PB is now called P5 (orange), while entrance PA has made way for entrances P1, P2 & P4 (yellow).
Impact’s Canadian players under the spotlight
New this year, clubs participating to the Canadian Championship have to name at least three homegrown players on their starting elevens; goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, as well as wingers David Choinière and Ballou Tabla fulfilled this condition for the Impact last Tuesday, while Patrice Bernier, Anthony Jackson-Hamel and Wandrille Lefèvre all entered the game in the second half. Montreal’s away goal came in fact from homegrown player Choinière.
Captain Patrice Bernier added his name to another club record in this last game, becoming the first Impact player to reach 1,000 minutes played in the Canadian Championship, with a total of 1,026. For his part, Anthony Jackson-Hamel became the first homegrown player to register an assist in the Canadian Championship, having provided the pass before the number 17, hailing from Saint-Alexandre, scored the Bleu-blanc-noir’s only goal in Vancouver.
Rest for the Impact, tough game for Vancouver
While the Impact had a bye week in MLS, the Whitecaps returned to league action in an inter-conference meeting with D.C. United at home. After the visitors took the lead in the 61st minute with a Lamar Neagle penalty coming off a foul by Kendall Waston, Vancouver had the chance to level the score in injury time, also with a penalty, but Designated Player Fredy Montero hit the post.
The injury list is becoming longer for the ‘Caps: along with Brett Levis, Yordy Reyna, David Edgar, Erik Hurtado, Christian Dean and Bernie Ibini, who are all current occupants of the therapy room, Brek Shea, who was punched in the head by goalkeeper Bill Hamid for the last-minute penalty decision on Saturday, as well as Tony Tchani, who ran into the goal post, could be unavailable for this game.
Upcoming game
The Montreal Impact will return to MLS action next weekend, as the New York Red Bulls will be back at Stade Saputo, on Saturday, June 3, at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). Excellent tickets for this rivalry game, as well as prorated season tickets, are still offered on impactmontreal.com.
