In the first game of the series, Thursday at Saputo Stadium, the Impact shut out the Battery 2-0. David Testo (10th) and Rocco Placentino (88th) both scored for the Impact.
“I’m happy about the way we played the first game, but the job isn’t done yet,” said Testo, who scored the game-winner Thursday. “We have to approach Sunday’s game with the same mentality. It’s going to be a battle. The team with the biggest heart, determination and spirit will go to the next round. A 2-0 lead is good, but anything can happen, so we cannot sit on it.”
“We want to win the match and the series at all cost,” declared Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. “Our past experiences have taught us that if you play with the fear of losing, you will be in trouble. If you attack and keep on playing, you reduce the probability of the other team coming back.”
Defender Stefano Pesoli will be back in the lineup Sunday after missing the first game of the playoffs due to an automatic one-game suspension for the red card he received in the last season game in Cary.
Midfielders Joey Gjertsen and Mauro Biello, as well as defender Adam Braz will not be available Sunday. Gjertsen and Biello suffered lower body injuries in the first game of the series, while Braz did not travel with his teammates for personal reasons.
Defender Nevio Pizzolitto is only 40 minutes away from becoming the 2nd player in Impact history to reach 2,000 minutes played in the playoffs. Team captain Mauro Biello leads the club with 2,487 minutes.
"In the home game against Charleston, we succeeded in making a difference by getting two goals,” declared Pizzolitto. “A new game awaits us on Sunday and it will certainly not be easy. We need to be ready for the decisive matchup.”
“In Montreal, the Battery defended the entire game. Sunday, they will not have any other choice than attacking,” added Dos Santos. “The game will probably be open and we hope to take advantage of the spaces they will create.”
Battery defender Matt Bobo will miss Sunday’s game due to an automatic one-game suspension following the red card he received Thursday.
If both teams are tied following the two-leg series, there will be two 15-minute periods of extra time, and should there still be a tie, the winner will be determined on penalty kicks.
This is the first time that both teams match up in the playoffs.
OTHER FACTS
• In the other two quarterfinal series, the Vancouver Whitecaps (7th) shut out the Carolina RailHawks (2nd) 1-0 Thursday at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, while the Rochester Rhinos (6th) took advantage of defender Cristian Arrieta’s ejection in the 7th minute to take a 2-1 lead over the Puerto Rico Islanders (3rd), Thursday, at Marina Auto Stadium, in Rochester.
• After the quarterfinals, teams will be ranked according to the regular season standings. The semifinals will be played between September 30 and October 4
• The Impact has a lifetime record in the playoffs of 18-17-5 (50GF-41GA) and won two championships, in 1994 and 2004.
• The Impact plays under the .500 mark in a total of 20 regular season matches against Charleston (8-10-2, 18 GF – 19 GA). Before the game Thursday, the Impact had only won twice in the last 10 regular season games against Charleston. (2-6-2).
ELSEWHERE IN THE LEAGUE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
• Vancouver @ Carolina – WakeMed Soccer Park – 5 pm
• Rochester @ Puerto Rico – Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium – 6 pm
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Source : Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info : 514-328-3668, Ext. 227
