THE GAME AT A GLANCE
• It is the second match-up of a three-game homestand.
• After playing its first three games on the road (1-1-1), Montreal came up with a convincing 4-0 win against the Minnesota Thunder, last Sunday, in the club’s 13th home opener in history.
• This is only the second lifetime match-up between the two clubs because Miami is an expansion team this year in the USL. In the first meeting between the two clubs, last April 23 in Florida, the Impact and Miami settled for a 0-0 tie. It was the season opener for both teams.
• So far this season, the Impact has scored six goals, two of which have been registered by midfielders. This represents a third of the team’s output.
THE OPPONENT
• The Miami FC is playing its third road game in club history. The USL expansion team came up with a 1-0 win against the Lynx, Friday in Toronto, in its last away game. Romario scored the game winning goal in the 19th minute. Miami also drew a 1-1 tie against the Battery in Charleston, May 7.
• The Miami FC has a 3-2-2 record in seven games this season and is third in overall USL D1 standings with a total of 11 pts, four more than the Impact. Montreal has three games in hand on the Florida squad, however.
PRE-GAMES COMMENTS
IMPACT HEAD COACH NICK DE SANTIS
“I think we’re more ready than we were when we faced them in the beginning of the season. We’ll put pressure on their defenders and we’re hoping to capitalize on their mistakes. Their defense will be marking our forwards, so our midfielders will have to create good scoring chances, like they did in last Sunday’s game. If our midfield plays well, our chances of winning the game will increase.”
GOALKEEPER GREG SUTTON
“They are a dangerous team with good offensive players. I’m sure it won’t be an ordinary game. Like in Miami, we are expecting a physical game. If we want to have success, we will have to win our one-on-one battles. We prepared all week long and our concentration is on that game.”
MIDFIELDER ZÉ ROBERTO
“Even with Romario in the line-up, we are approaching this game like any other. Still, it will be special to face him. If we keep an eye on him, he won’t hurt us. We will also have to mark Zinho, who is an excellent playmaker. It will be an interesting match-up but we will have to work hard during 90 minutes if we want a good result.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
IMPACT
• GREG SUTTON (G) - Three shutouts in four starts this season.
• DANIEL ANTONIUK (F) - The Impact’s leading scorer so far this season with two goals (2G, 0A – 4PTS).
• ANTONIO RIBEIRO (M) - One goal and one assist in last Sunday’s game vs. Minnesota (1G, 1A – 3PTS) and three shots on net in the last game vs. Miami.
MIAMI
• ROMARIO (F) - Miami’s leading scorer this season (3G, 0A – 6 PTS) and 962 career goals.
• ZINHO (M) - Miami’s leading playmaker (0G, 2A – 2PTS), and won the 1994 World Cup with Brazil in 1994, along with Romario.
FACTS TO FOLLOW
• Darko Kolic, 98 career games with the Impact and 99 points in the league
• Greg Sutton, 61 career shutouts with the Impact
INJURIES
Team – Player (Position) – Injury – Status
MTL - Kirk Wilson (M) - sprained ankle - could be back Sunday
MTL - Masahiro Fukasawa (M) - sprained foot - could be back this week
MTL - Gerry Argento (G) – concussion - unknown return
MIA - Mario Rodriguez (M) – thigh - did not travel with the team
IMPACT LAST GAME
Sun. May 21: Minnesota 0 - Impact 4 (@ Montréal)
Nevio Pizzolitto (9th), Patrick Leduc (30th), Antonio Ribeiro (67th) and Daniel Antoniuk (87th) scored.
NEXT GAME
Sun. June 4 - Puerto Rico @ Impact - Claude-Robillard Sports Complex - 4:00 pm
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, ext. 27
