Last game before a three-week break for Montreal
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact will put an end to a sequence of three games in eight days at home, this Wednesday at 7:30pm, when the Seattle Sounders FC visit Stade Saputo (TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5, TSN 690). Excellent tickets remain available on impactmontreal.com.
“We have a game coming that is very important,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “I hope we’ll have more cohesion and more desire to play for one another in this game. It’s an important one that could allow us to finish the first part of the season on a positive note, which is a good one considering all the circumstances we had to face. My energy and focus are solely on the upcoming game.”
Stade Saputo's gates will at 5:30pm, allowing you to take advantage of the spring weather. From 5:30pm to 6:30pm, the 2-for-1 special on all drinks will be in place, and animations, numerous activities, and photobooths will be available beneath the stands. Video game enthusiasts can try their luck against LyesMTL, the Impact's eSports player in the BMO Celebration Zone, on FIFA 19 on PS4. Finally, a new pregame ritual, during which supporters will be able to welcome players in the stadium's North stand, will take place as of 6pm, 90 minutes before kickoff. Please note as well that our new IMFC grilled cheeses made by chef Danny Smiles will henceforth be on the concessions' menu at Stade Saputo, starting as low as $2.83 (plus tax).
The MLS bag policy will be in place for this game. Backpacks, camera bags, and big tote bags, as well as any bag larger than 35cm x 35cm x 15cm will not be accepted inside the stadium.
Also, please note that more traffic than usual is to be expected in the Sherbrooke/Pie-IX/Pierre-de-Coubertin/Viau area, as well as to access the different parking lots around Stade Saputo due to roadwork.
The Viau metro station is undergoing an important renovation project. Construction on the new bus rapid transit corridor (BRT) on Pie-IX Boulevard has begun, and as such, traffic on Pie-IX between the A40 and Pierre-de-Coubertin Street will be impeded, while bus routes may be diverted. The P1, P2, P3, P4 parking lots are available. The P5 parking lot is reserved for Members with a parking pass.
A challenge for Rémi Garde
Good news for a few Impact players, who have been chosen to represent their respective nations: Canadians Zachary Brault-Guillard and Samuel Piette joined John Herdman’s troops to prepare for the Concacaf Gold Cup; American Daniel Lovitz was invited to the training camp of the American selection; Finnish defender Jukka Raitala is part of the group chosen for Euro 2020 qualifying games; Ugandan Micheal Azira, on his end, will take part in the Africa Cup of Nations, in Egypt.
It will therefore be a reduced line-up that will take on the Sounders on Wednesday night. Homegrown midfielders Mathieu Choinière and Clément Bayiha are unavailable due to injury, while Nacho Piatti will be absent long-term. Bacary Sagna will also be sidelined due to an ankle injury. Midfielder Amar Sejdic was called back from Ottawa Fury FC to make up the absence of numerous players but suffered an ankle injury. In this context, supporters at Stade Saputo will have an even bigger influence on the game.
In two games against the Sounders at Stade Saputo, the Impact is perfect, with two wins, no draws and no losses, limiting the opponent to just a goal. Striker Maxi Urruti, in 11 games against Seattle, has scored three goals while adding two assists.
“There are a few players missing, but it doesn’t apply just to us,” said midfielder Saphir Taïder. “It hasn’t been easy for us since the beginning of the season, but we’ve always found ways to bounce back with a positive result. Saturday’s game didn’t go as planned, but it’s up to us to pick ourselves up and start over. If we can come away with three points on Wednesday, it’ll be almost forgotten.”
Players also missing for the Sounders
Key players will also be unavailable for the visitors. Australian full-back Brad Smith was selected by his national team, along with Americans Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris, Ecuadorian Xavier Arreaga, Martiniquais Jordy Delem, Trinidadian Joevin Jones, Uruguayan Nicolas Lodeiro, Panamanian Roman Torres, Peruvian Raul Diaz and Swede Gustav Svensson. Defender Kim Kee-hee remains uncertain, as does midfielder Victor Rodriguez, both suffering injuries to their left leg. Ranked third in the Western Conference, the Sounders have lost their last two games, both away from home, boasting an overall record of one win, three losses, and three draws on the road this year.
“It’ll be important for us to rebound again from a bad performance, and we’ll have to do it without the normal cast of characters,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “We’ll try to get through this game and get a positive result. I have confidence that we can. Then we’ll head into the three-week break and try to figure out the things that we need to figure out as a group in order to move forward into the second half of the year with a mindset that there needs to be more consistency, while also drawing the positives of being able to rebound after negative performances.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will take advantage of a three-week international break before hosting the Portland Timbers at Stade Saputo on Wednesday, June 26, at 7:30pm (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690). Montreal will then play a second game in four days when it travels to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to take on Atlanta United on Saturday, June 29 at 6pm (TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690).
