Tickets for this game are still available through Admission Network (admission.com / 514-790-1245) or at Saputo Stadium’s ticketing office.
With only three games remaining this season, the Impact (26pts) is three points behind the Minnesota Stars for the sixth and final playoff spot. The Stars face the Atlanta Silverbacks tonight in Blaine, Minnesota (nscminnesota.com).
"Our players are motivated and they know that tomorrow's game will be a big challenge," said Impact head coach and sporting director Nick De Santis. "We can't afford to make mistakes against Carolina. We will need to stay focused for at least 90 minutes if we want to come out with the win. It is a good thing for us to play in Montreal, where we created a lot of positive things over the last few games."
In its last three games on the road, the Impact won 2-0 in Minnesota, lost 1-0 in Fort Lauderdale, before tying the Puerto Rico Islanders 1-1, Wednesday, at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, in Bayamon.
"We know that the next three games will be as difficult as the last one," said defender Philippe Billy. "We must play as if we were already in the playoffs. These games are critical. We have to play a strong game against the RailHawks."
"We have to be perfect," added striker Eduardo Sebrango, who will be available Sunday after missing the last two games due to a thigh injury.
"We have more experience on our team and we have to put pressure on them."
This is the last of four matchups between the teams in 2011. Montreal will try to win its first game of the season against Carolina, after losing 2-1 on April 16 in Cary, 2-1 on May 14 at Saputo Stadium, and 2-0 on July 3 in Carolina.
The Impact has a record of seven wins, seven losses and three ties (21GF-19GA) in 17 games against the Carolina franchise, since 2007.
The Carolina RailHawks have already clinched the NASL regular season championship with 17 wins in 25 games so far this season. In their last game, Wednesday, the RailHawks were shut out 1-0 against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, in Florida.
The RailHawks are first in the league with 49 goals scored. Maltese striker Etienne Barbara is currently leading the league in goals and points with 20 goals and eight assists for 48 points. Teammate Pablo Campos is second in the league with 11 goals.
Impact midfielder Antonio Ribeiro has recovered from a calf injury and will be available tomorrow.
Goalkeeper Bill Gaudette (thigh) and striker Ali Gerba (knee) will miss the game due to injuries.
The club will hold a minute of silence to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 events
The Impact will play its last regular season home game at Saputo Stadium against FC Edmonton, on September 17, at 7:30pm (98,5FM, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports). The Impact will then conclude its regular season on September 24 at 7:30pm against the Silverbacks, in Atlanta (atlantasilverbacks.com)
Meanwhile, the Impact U21 played two road games in less than 24 hours this weekend. The team lost 5-2, Friday, against Toronto Croatia, at Centennial Stadium, in Etobicoke, and lost 3-0 versus the York Region Shooters, Saturday, in Vaughan.
TOWARDS THE PLAYOFFS
• At the conclusion of the regular season, the top six teams in the NASL standings will qualify for the 2011 NASL playoffs.
• The six teams will be given seeds 1 through 6 with the top team in the standings receiving the number 1 seed.
• In the event that two or more teams are level on points in the standings, the tied teams will be seeded in order of their head-to-head records against each other during the regular season. If two or more teams are level on points and in their head-to-head records against each other, the teams will be sorted in order by goal differential. If a tie still persists, the next tiebreaker will be the number of goals scored.
• The quarterfinal round will be a single match while the semifinal and final rounds will each be a home-and-away series on aggregate goals.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NASL
• Saturday, Sept. 10 – Atlanta @ Minnesota – National Sports Center – 8:30pm (nscminnesota.com)
• Sunday, Sept 11 – Fort Lauderdale @ Edmonton – Foote Field – 9:30pm (fcedmonton.com)
• Saturday, Sept 17 – Minnesota @ Tampa Bay – Al Lang Stadium – 7pm (fctampabay.com)
LAST TWO GAMES
• Saturday, Sept. 17 – FC Edmonton @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 7:30pm (98,5FM, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports)
• Saturday, Sept. 24 – IMPACT @ Atlanta Silverbacks – Atlanta Silverbacks Park – 7:30pm (atlantasilverbacks.com)
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