The top team in MLS in Montreal
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact will host the current leaders in MLS standings, the New York Red Bulls, this Saturday at 7:30pm at Stade Saputo (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). Excellent tickets remain available at impactmontreal.com.
“There will be no half-measure,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “If we want a result against them, we’ll have to be at our best. That’s clear enough. We also remember playing them earlier this year. We had opportunities, but to create them, we need to play a game that I haven’t seen enough of these past few weeks. Whether it’s defensively or offensively, we dropped a notch in our intention and intensity we usually put forth. Like I often tell the players, the determination and desire we have to put in the effort for each other throughout 90 minutes will be paramount and most certainly the most important factor in tomorrow’s game.”
Despite the arrival of the month of September, IMFC Summer will once again shine bright in the stadium’s corridors, from the second the doors open at 5:30pm. The 2-for-1 special on all drinks will be in place until 6:30pm, 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.
Positive stretch against the Red Bulls
The Impact is unbeaten in its three last games against the Red Bulls in Montreal, and hasn’t even conceded a goal in that period, with all three clean sheets belonging to Evan Bush. However, complacency cannot be on the menu for the Bleu-blanc-noir, who has an overall record of four wins, 10 losses and two draws against New York in the regular season since 2012.
“We quickly saw that this team likes to play in behind and hold the ball in midfield,” said defender Rod Fanni. “They already had a wide array of skill on their team and we see now that their results prove what we had felt at first. It’s a team with talent, individually and collectively.”
Against the Red Bulls, midfielder Ignacio Piatti has two goals and two assists in eight games, while striker Quincy Amarikwa has two goals in 10 career games against the New York team.
Red Bulls in form
New York comes to Montreal full of confidence, unbeaten in its last six games. The Red Bulls are, however, coming off two slight 1-0 wins, against D.C. United on Sunday, and against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday.
“We know it’ll be a difficult game against the leaders in the East,” said midfielder Samuel Piette. “At home, anything can happen, and we always have a bit of a different attitude when we play here. There’s a little extra motivation. We’re coming off a loss that hurt, but I think these are the perfect conditions to pick ourselves up and approach these last few games of the season the right way. We’re hosting the first placed team in the East at home and it’s the perfect opportunity for us to show what we’re capable of from now to the end of the season.”
Upcoming games
After the international break, the Impact will travel to Pennsylvania to face the Philadelphia Union, also battling for a playoff spot, on Saturday, September 15, at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, 98,5fm). The following week, the Bleu-blanc-noir will be back in Montreal to face New York City FC at Stade Saputo on Saturday, September 22, at 7:30pm (TVA Sports).
