342 minutes without conceding a goal for the Bleu-blanc-noir
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact begins a busy sequence of seven games in 22 days when it hosts the Colorado Rapids, this Saturday at 7:30pm at Stade Saputo (TVA Sports, 98.5fm, TSN Radio 690). Excellent tickets are still available on impactmontreal.com
“It’s a trap game,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “Colorado is a team that defends very well and that’s difficult to beat. There’s a chance they wait for us deep in their own zone, leave us very little space and try to break out on the counter. They have speed up front. They’re a team who sucks in their opponent. We’ll need to be patient and circulate the ball quickly.”
IMFC Summer will once again shine bright in the stadium’s corridors, from the second the doors open at 5pm. The 2-for-1 special on all drinks will be in place until 6pm, and a DJ, accompanied by a host, will set the atmosphere. Also, by arriving early, supporters can take advantage of a plethora of activities offered by our partners, and you can try your luck against LyesMTL, the Impact’s eSports player, in a game of FIFA 18 on PS4 in the BMO Celebration Zone.
The MLS bag policy will be in place for this game. Backpacks, camera bags, and big tote bags, as well as any bag larger than 35cm x 35cm x 15cm will not be accepted inside the stadium.
Also, please note that more traffic than usual is expected in the Sherbrooke/Pie-IX/Pierre-de-Couberton/Viau area, as Viau Street will be closed southbound between Beaubien Street and Rosemont Boulevard. The Impact strongly suggests using public transportation to get to the stadium and exit at Viau metro station. Drivers are welcome to use P1 parking lot, on Pierre-de-Coubertin, P3 on Pie-IX, and P4 on Sherbrooke.
A team transformed
The Bleu-blanc-noir is the team of the hour in MLS: with 12 points out of a possible 15 and only two goals allowed in its last five games, the Impact is now just two points out of a playoff spot. Montreal has not allowed a goal in 342 minutes, a club record in MLS.
“This game will be more difficult for us than the Kansas City game or the one against Orlando, and there’s a few reasons for that,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “Orlando was in front of us, and we need to catch up to them, and Kansas City was one of the better teams in the league, so we had to be on top of our game mentally and physically. Against Colorado, it’s a trap game. We’re absolutely not in a position to let our guard down, regardless of how we’ve been playing. We’ve been getting results because we’ve been committed and fully involved in everything that we’re doing, both in training and in a game. We’ll need to stay vigilant.”
Even if he’s never scored against the Rapids thus far into his career, Nacho Piatti has accumulated four goals in his last five games. Striker Matteo Mancosu, on his end, scored once in his only meeting against Saturday’s visitors, while Alejandro Silva scored his first goal with the Impact last Saturday against Sporting Kansas City.
Although both are close to making a return, centre backs Zakaria Diallo and Kyle Fisher will both be unavailable for this one. Midfielders Samuel Piette and Jeisson Vargas remain uncertain, while young Quebecers David Choinière and Louis Béland-Goyette are still out with long-term injuries. For the Rapids, defender Marlon Hairston is unavailable through injury, while Edgar Castillo is suspended.
“The group’s attitude is very good, and we take every game seriously,” said midfielder Samuel Piette. “Against Colorado, it’ll be important for us to take it even more seriously and give it our all. I know we have a lot of games in July, but we need to take them one at a time, and not look further than the next game.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will pursue its month of July by visiting Yankee Stadium and New York City FC on Wednesday, July 11 at 7pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5fm, TSN Radio 690), and then by hosting the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, July 14 at 7:30pm (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98.5fm, TSN Radio)
