Tickets for this game are still available through Admission Network (admission.com / 514-790-1245) or at Saputo Stadium’s ticketing office.
It will be a third game in nine days for the Impact and a fourth game in two weeks.
In its last match, the Impact tied FC Tampa Bay 3-3, Wednesday night, at Saputo Stadium.
“That game must become a lesson for the team, but we must also remember the positive elements,” said Impact sporting director and head coach Nick De Santis, who will be coaching his 137th career regular season game (70-32-33), on Sunday, tying Valerio Gazzola in first place in team history “The mental aspect is very important at this level. Our players are showing a lot of effort and energy, and the atmosphere remains good because we all believe we are not at the position we should be in the standings right now.”
Striker Eduardo Sebrango scored two goals in that tie, while teammate Ali Gerba tied a team record with three assists.
“Even though we didn’t play a lot together, we have enough experience to understand and find each other on the field,” said Gerba. “We must play with the same mentality Sunday. The result was disappointing and we are now even more motivated to get those three points. We must overcome the mistakes we made in the last minutes of the game as it hurt us a lot.”
“We must correct the details that made the difference between a win and a tie Wednesday night,” noted midfielder Hassoun Camara. “There are some positive offensively because our forwards are healthy at the same time, while the newcomers add a new interesting dimension to our offence.”
It will be the third of four matchups between both teams this season. The Impact lost the first game 2-1, on June 8, in Atlanta, before playing to a 2-2 tie, on July 17, at Saputo Stadium.
The Impact has a record of 20 wins, five losses and two ties (56GF-27GA) in 27 games against Atlanta, since 1995. Montreal is also unbeaten at home against Atlanta, with a 12-0-1 record (31GF-7GA).
The Atlanta Silverbacks are currently last in the NASL overall standings with a record of three wins, 14 losses and three ties for a total of 12 points.
In their last game, Wednesday, the Silverbacks were shut out 2-0 by the Puerto Rico Islanders, in Bayamon. The Silverbacks are last in defence in the NASL having allowed 43 goals in 20 games.
Forward Reda Agourram, who missed the last nine games with a groin injury, will be available for the game, as well as midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo, who has recovered from a hamstring injury.
Midfielder David Testo (calf) is evaluated on a day-to-day basis.
With two goals last Wednesday, forward Eduardo Sebrango reached 50 career goals with the Impact. He is only 80 minutes away to become the 12th player in Impact history to reach 10,000 minutes played with the club.
Defender Philippe Billy will play his 50th career game with the Impact on Sunday.
The Impact U21 team is playing two games on the road this weekend. The team tied the St. Catharines Wolves 1-1, Friday night, at Club Roma, and will face the North York Astros, on Saturday, at Esther Shiner Stadium.
NEXT THREE GAMES
• Saturday, Aug. 20 – Minnesota Stars @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 2:30pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports)
• Saturday, Aug. 27 – IMPACT @ Minnesota Stars – National Sports Center – 8pm (nscminnesota.com)
• Saturday, Sept. 3 – IMPACT @ Fort Lauderdale Strikers – Lockhart Stadium – 2:30pm (strikers.com)
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