The Impact is currently in third place in the NASL Division with 24 points, four more points than Crystal Palace which is in fifth place. In the general standings, the Impact is seventh, tied with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Puerto Rico Islanders.
"This is a must win game, no matter how we achieve it," said Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "We still have nine games to play and we need to improve our position in the standings. We are going through a tough situation, yet it is not the time to start to panic. We were unlucky in our last few matches but everybody still remains confident. The group's chemistry is still very strong, which is a good thing, in spite of how things are going."
The Impact is in a difficult but familiar position. For a third consecutive season, Montreal is currently three games under .500, in August.
"We have a very good group and the quality to do well, so it is not logical that results are not coming," said defender Philippe Billy, one of the two Impact players to have played all 21 matches this season. "We are not happy with our position in the standings, but the atmosphere is still very good and we are still confident. I feel that we can get on a roll at any time and get back on top of the standings."
The Impact will try to get its first win against Crystal Palace this season (0-1-1). The Impact was defeated 2-1 on July 18 at Saputo Stadium.
Defenders Nevio Pizzolitto and Adam Braz will not be available for the match Wednesday because of an automatic one-game suspension, for receiving their fifth yellow card of the season against the RailHawks.
Forward Peter Byers will also be out of the lineup Wednesday. He is suspended by the club for an undetermined period, after breaking a team rule.
Defenders Stephen deRoux (cheek) and Simon Gatti (groin), midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo (calf), as well as striker Marco Terminesi (appendicitis) will not be available because of injuries.
"It's frustrating that we can not have everyone in the lineup. There are many players missing, but we cannot use that as an excuse. We are confident with all the players on this team," added Dos Santos.
French defender Richard Pelletier, who joined the Impact on Monday, will be available Wednesday. Midfielder David Testo, who left the game in North Carolina after suffering an injury to his left ankle, should also be in the lineup tomorrow.
Midfielder Patrick Leduc is only 31 minutes away from the 15,000-minute played mark with the Impact. He will become the fifth player in club history to do so after Mauro Biello (22,288 minutes), Nevio Pizzolitto (20,779 minutes), Nick De Santis (18,303 minutes) and Patrick Diotte (16,031 minutes).
For the last time, fans in attendance Wednesday will be privy to a $1 Lafleur hotdog promotion, starting at 6 pm (when the doors open) until kickoff. Tickets for the game are available through the Admission Network (514-790-1245 / 1-800-361-4595 / admission.com) as well as at the Saputo Stadium ticket office.
OTHER NOTES
• The Impact has a home record of four wins, four losses and three draws, the same record as Crystal Palace on the road.
• The Impact will face head coach Jim Cherneski’s squad for a fourth and final time this season on August 21 in Baltimore.
• Crystal Palace has not won in its last three matches, the last win coming July 18 in Montreal.
• Striker Gary Brooks has scored a goal in each of the two matches against Montreal this season.
THE NEXT 3 GAMES
• Saturday, August 14 – IMPACT @ Rochester – Paetec Park – 7 pm (rhinossoccer.com)
• Saturday, August 21 – IMPACT @ Baltimore – Maryland SoccerPlex – 7 pm (palacebaltimore.com)
• Friday, August 27 – Rochester @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 7:30 pm (Radio-Canada, radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990)
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Source : Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info : 514-328-3668 (ext. 227)
