“The game against Charleston is very important for us,” mentioned Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. “This is a good team on the road that defends extremely well. Their success can be explained by the fact that they always field the same lineup. They come here with a strong and stable defense that will rely heavily on counterattacking. This game would give us the opportunity to reach the 20-point mark and to be 8 points from first place.”
This is the third and last game this season between both teams. In the first two matches between both clubs, April 18 at Charleston and May 15 in Montreal, the Impact and the Battery tied 0-0 on both occasions.
The Impact is playing under the .500 mark in 18 games against Charleston (8-9-1, 18 GF – 18 GA), but at home the Impact registered four wins in eight games.
Charleston is currently second in the USL First Division standings with 27 points. The Battery played its last three regular season matches against Puerto Rico, suffering two consecutive 1-0 losses in Bayamon, June 18 and 20, and earning a 1-0 win at home, June 25.
Goalkeeper Dustin Hudock currently leads the league in shutouts, with nine clean sheets up to now this season. The Battery has conceded only six goals since the beginning of the campaign.
“Every time we play against a team that is ahead of us in the standings, we need to earn a maximum of points,” said team captain Mauro Biello. “We need to continue playing well at home and send a message to the other teams in the league that it’s not easy to play at Saputo Stadium.”
Defender Cédric Joqueviel (thigh) and midfielder Patrick Leduc (foot) will still not be available for Sunday’s match due to injuries. Defender Stefano Pesoli is still recovering from a knee injury but could take part in the match.
The team record under head coach Dos Santos is 5-2-1 since his debut game against Charleston on May 15, at Saputo Stadium.
Tickets are still available for this game on Admission, at admission.com or by dialling 514-790-1245, as well as at the ticketing office of Saputo Stadium.
OTHER FACTS
• Goalkeeper Matt Jordan is one victory and one shutout away from 25 wins and 25 clean sheets in his career with the Impact.
• Defender Simon Gatti, who is one card away from a one-match suspension, is 32 minutes from the 5,000 minutes played mark.
• In the second of a series of international matches presented this summer in Montreal, the Impact and the Haitian National Team tied 0-0, Wednesday, at Saputo Stadium.
• The Battery qualified to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, after eliminating Major League Soccer’s CD Chivas in a 3-1 win, Tuesday in Charleston. The team will face MLS’s Houston Dynamo this Tuesday in the quarterfinal round.
NEXT GAMES
• Wednesday, July 8 – Syria VS IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 7:30 pm
• Saturday, July 11 – IMPACT @ Minnesota – National Sports Center – 8h05 pm (USLlive.com)
• Wednesday, July 15 – IMPACT @ Rochester – Marina Auto Stadium – 7 pm (USLlive.com)
International match
PRE-GAME VIDEO
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Source : Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info : 514-328-3668, Ext. 227
