Fourth game in 12 days for Bleu-blanc-noir
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact continues its MLS Cup playoff race, this Wednesday evening, as New York City FC will be at Stade Saputo at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 985sports.ca, CJAD 800), a game presented by the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. Excellent tickets remain available on impactmontreal.com.
“We will have to find again the fluidity we showed against Toronto and finish our actions,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “They are a good team, organized and difficult to break down defensively. They also have players who can make a difference at any moment. They have always been in tight games on the road and that’s what we expect on Wednesday night.”
The IMFC Summer carries on, despite the official start of fall. DJ Miss Shelton will be on stage from 5:30pm, and the special 2 for 1 offer for all drinks at Stade Saputo is still available, from 5pm to 6pm. The Impact recommends that supporters use public transit and get to the stadium early.
As usual, the MLS Bag Policy will be in effect. All backpacks, camera bags and large tote bags, as well as all bags bigger than 35 cm x 35 cm x 15 cm are prohibited.
Please also note that parking entrances have changed names since last season. Entrace PB is now called P5 (orange), while entrance PA has made way for entrances P1, P2 & P4 (yellow).
In need of points
Three points away from the New York Red Bulls, who sit in sixth place, which is also the last qualifying spot for the MLS Cup playoffs, the Impact can still enter the fall tournament, but will have to bypass its rival, who has a game in hand.
“We need to get the win, nothing less. We still believe in our chances,” underlined striker Anthony Jackson-Hamel. “We are always positive. We need to get points. The confidence is still there and we have fuel left in the tank, especially as the end of the season approaches. We will push, our objective is to make the playoffs.”
The Montreal squad depth will be tested once again on Wednesday, for this fourth game in 12 days. During this run, 18 different players have played for the Bleu-blanc-noir.
The Impact is still without a win against New York City FC at Stade Saputo since the club entered MLS, back in 2015, with a -3 goal differential in Montreal. It will be the third game between the two teams in the Olympic Park.
New York City FC waiting
Officially qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs and unofficially out of the Supporters’ Shield race, New York City FC does not have much at stake until the end of the regular season but secure its second position, which would put the Citizens directly at the Eastern Conference semifinals stage.
This lack of common goals was apparent in the past few weeks for tactician Patrick Vieira’s team, who is a former midfielder for Arsenal, Juventus and Inter Milan. The New Yorkers have registered only one win in their last five games, but that was without David Villa, who got his first start since August 25, this Saturday.
Upcoming games
The Impact will leave for the Rockies, and Denver more precisely, to play against the Colorado Rapids, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, this Saturday, September 30, at 9pm (TVA Sports, CJAD 800). After the international break will follow the – possibly – last derby in 2017 against Toronto FC at BMO Field, on Sunday, October 15, at 3pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
