Fifth of seven games in 22 days for Montreal
PORTLAND, Oregon – The Montreal Impact continues its busy month of July by traveling to Oregon to face the Portland Timbers at Providence Park, Saturday at 11pm EDT (TVA Sports).
“We face a very good team that is on a good run, even though they lost in the cup this week,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “We will try to correct a few things in relation to our last away game. We will have to keep important defensive bases, but we will also have to be able to do more offensively as a collective unit.”
Two teams on a roll
This annual meeting with Diego Valeri and his teammates comes at a good time for both parties: on one side, the Bleu-blanc-noir has won seven of its last nine games across all competitions, and has not conceded a goal in the first half in its last six outings; on the other, the Timbers saw their 14-game unbeaten run come to an end on Wednesday, against LAFC in the US Open Cup. The Oregon club currently ranks fourth in the Western Conference, eight points behind the leaders.
“We know Portland is a good team and that they are in form at the moment,” said midfielder Saphir Taïder. “It’s a tricky trip in a tough stadium. It’s up to us to stay the course. We have to repeat our efforts, play as a block and stay close one to another. That’s how we will be able to take points. We go there to win. We have to get it in our heads that we need to take points.”
In two trips to Providence Park in its MLS history, the Impact is unbeaten, with a record of one win and one draw. Against the Timbers, Argentine Designated Player Nacho Piatti usually plays well, with three goals in three games. Otherwise, the Impact’s next goal on the road will be the club’s 400th in history, including those that came in the second division.
For the Timbers, there are doubts around the condition of defender Roy Miller, who still has not seen any MLS action this term, and of midfielder Cristhian Paredes, who missed the last three games. Diego Chara will be unavailable through suspension, because of an accumulation of yellow cards.
Keep looking up
The Impact is at the heart of the MLS Cup playoff race. Currently in sixth place in the East, the Bleu-blanc-noir is well positioned in a table in which only eight points separate the fourth and ninth positions. Obviously, points on the road are a coveted bonus in this context.
“It’s a tough month, we’ll need everybody to contribute,” said midfielder Ken Krolicki. “We need everyone to be at 100% every game. I think we’re fit enough, we worked hard with the coaches during the preseason to be ready for this. We aim to get the result on the road against Portland. They’ve been scoring a lot of goals, so we have a defensive challenge ahead of us.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will travel north on the West Coast, coming back to Canada after this game for the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinals against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, on Wednesday, July 25, at 10pm EDT at BC Place (canadasoccer.com, Yahoo Sports Canada, 98,5fm), holding a 1-0 lead in the series. Then, the Bleu-blanc-noir will have a nice challenge at Stade Saputo, when one of the East’s best teams, Atlanta United FC, visits on Saturday, July 28 at 7pm (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
