THE GAME AT A GLANCE
• It is the 176th and last regular season game in the club’s history to be played at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex. Since 1993 (14 seasons), the Impact has a 114-43-18 record, in 175 games (277 GF – 132 GA). Before Wednesday’s game, a total of 1,075,845 spectators attended Impact games at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex, for an average of 114,891 spectators per season.
• During its last game, last Friday, a two-goal performance by Charles Gbeke (9th and 35th minute) led the Impact to a 2-0 win against the Rochester Raging Rhinos, in front of 12,723 spectators, at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.
• With 47 points and two games to play, the Impact is still fighting for the regular season title. The Impact is third in the standings, one point behind the Seattle Sounders and three points behind the Portland Timbers. The Timbers have played one more game.
• The Impact has a 9-2-1 record in 12 games against the Silverbacks. The Impact has never lost in five games at home against the Silverbacks (5-0).
• Goalkeeper Matt Jordan, who has registered five consecutive shutouts (465 minutes), will try to establish a new team record Wednesday for the longest streak without allowing a goal. The record is 517 minutes and was set by Greg Sutton.
• Forward Charles Gbeke leads the USL First Division with 10 goals. He also leads the Impact with 21 points (10-1-21).
THE OPPONENT
• This is also the 27th game of the season for the Silverbacks, which have lost only once in their last eight games (5-1-2).
• Atlanta is fourth in the USL D1 standings with 42 points and is still fighting for the fourth spot, which would give the home field advantage in the quarter-finals.
• Last year, Atlanta ended the season eighth in the USL First Division standings with a 10-13-5 record.
• Former Impact player Daniel Antoniuk leads the league with 23 points (7-9-23).
PRE-GAMES COMMENTS
HEAD COACH NICK DE SANTIS
“The depth that we have on our team will allow us to avoid putting pressure on players who are coming back from injuries and to keep out of the line-up players like Vincello, who is in danger following a yellow card accumulation. We don’t want him to be suspended during the playoffs. I think that any player in the line-up can help us clinch first place in the regular season standings.”
GOALKEEPER MATT JORDAN
“Our main focus is finishing the season on a strong note. We have been playing well as a team, so we are not thinking about records. Our focus is still on finishing the season on top and carrying that momentum into the playoffs. Atlanta is a solid team and they have a strong attack. It’s a tough team, yet we want to win this game.”
DEFENDER GABRIEL GERVAIS
“It’s a team that is doing well and playing with confidence because they will make the playoffs this year. They have a very solid offense because they have physical and strong players. On our side, we will have to play well defensively and be aware of free kicks. We obviously want to win the season championship, but it’s not entirely in our hands, Seattle having to lose or tie. We still want to keep on playing well before going into the playoffs, something we didn’t do in the past two years.”
OTHER FACTS
• Matt Jordan became the third goalkeeper in Impact history to earn at least 10 shutouts in a season. Paolo Ceccarelli (1996 - 13 shutouts) and Greg Sutton (2002 – 10, 2003 – 11, 2004 – 16 and 2005 –15) also clinched the mark.
• Midfielder Matthew Palleschi will play against Atlanta after having served a one-game suspension due to the red card he received in Carolina, August 26. Note that Palleschi’s next game will be his 50th game played in the USL First Division.
• Forward Roberto Brown is currently with the Panama National Team to play two friendly games against Mexico (September 9) and Venezuela (September 12). He could be back for the first game of the playoffs. For precautionary measures, Impact head coach Nick De Santis has also opted to rest defender Mauricio Vincello for this match. Vincello has already accumulated seven yellow cards.
• The Impact is only three goals from the 300-goal mark scored at home in club history (187 games).
• The Impact has a 6-1-1 record since the July 30 roster freeze when the team acquired Joey Gjertsen, David Testo, Luis Aguilar and Roberto Brown.
• The Impact has a 13-0-2 record when it scores the first goal in a game. On the other hand, the Impact has a 0-5-4 record when it allows the first goal.
• Tickets for the upcoming playoffs (quarterfinal games only) are on sale since last Friday. Tickets are available at the Montreal Impact office at 514-328-3668 or through the Admission Network. Prices for tickets are $25 for reserved seating, $10 (adults) and $5 (children) for general admission (taxes included).
• Playoff bound: The first eight out of 12 teams in the standings will take part in the playoffs and unlike last year, a bye will no longer be awarded for finishing first or second. The top seeded team will square off against the eighth, the second against the seventh – and so on – in a home and away series on total goals scored. The quarterfinal games should be played September 14 and 16. After the quarterfinal round, teams will be reseeded according to their place in the final standings, with the top remaining seeds playing against the lowest ones. The semi-final games should be played September 21 and 23. The single-game championship final will take place September 29.
PLAYER INJURIES
Player - Position – Injury – Status – Games missed
Nevio Pizzolitto Defender Thigh Approx 2 weeks 1
Andres Arango Defender Ribs Day to day 2
Mauro Biello Midfielder Elbow Approx. 2 weeks 3
Frederico Moojen Forward Sports hernia Season over 5
Jason DiTullio Defender Knee Season over 26
ELSEWHERE IN THE LEAGUE
No other game
NEXT GAMES
• Saturday, September 8 – Impact @ Rochester – Paetec Park – 7:35 pm (Radio-Canada, Sirius, CJAD, USLlive.com)
• Quarter-finals (to be determined)
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, ext. 27
