FC Edmonton - Montreal Impact
Wednesday, May 7, 2014 – 9:30pm (EDT)
Clarke Stadium
TV: Sportsnet ONE
EDMONTON, Alberta – The Montreal Impact begins defence of its Amway Canadian championship this Wednesday, against FC Edmonton at Clarke Stadium, in the first match of a home and away aggregate goal series. The game will be broadcast live at 9:30pm (EDT) on Sportsnet ONE. You can also get live updates using the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.
Amway Canadian Championship
The seventh edition of the Amway Canadian Championship features the nation’s five professional clubs, with the Montreal Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Toronto FC from MLS, as well as Ottawa Fury FC and FC Edmonton from the NASL, all playing to represent Canada in the 2014-15 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League.
The bleu-blanc-noir is defending its title after defeating Toronto FC 6-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals last season, before a 2-2 road draw in Vancouver in the final following a scoreless draw in Montreal.
Midfielder Justin Mapp was named the tournament MVP with a goal and two assists, while Marco Di Vaio was the team’s leading scorer following his two goals and two assists, all amassed in the 6-0 win over TFC in Montreal.
Head-to-head
In 2011, both clubs faced each other in the North American second division, with the Impact shutting out FC Edmonton twice, 5-0 on May 1 in Alberta and 2-0 on June 4 in Montreal.
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Toronto FC will play in the other semi-final on May 7 and 14.
Impact news
The Montreal Impact, coming off a bye week in MLS regular season play, was victorious in its most recent game, defeating the Philadelphia Union 1-0 at Stade Saputo on April 27.
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Goalkeeper Evan Bush, who was the starter for last season’s title, will be in goal once again for the Impact following a strong performance in 2013, going 1-1-2, with two shutouts and a goals against average of 1.00.
Four members of the Impact U23 side made the trip to Edmonton as the ACC allows for five youth players to be part of each team’s roster. Defender Amine Meftouh, midfielders Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé and Victor Ndiaye, as well as forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel will be part of the game day roster.
Edmonton news
NASL representatives FC Edmonton won the preliminary round series of the ACC against Ottawa Fury FC thanks to a 3-1 win in the second leg following a 0-0 draw in Edmonton. Forward Daryl Fordyce scored a brace, while midfielder Hanson Boakai tallied a goal and two assists.
The Eddies lost its most recent matchup however, by a 3-1 score, to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Fordyce scored again in this one.
Although Edmonton sits at the bottom of the 2014 NASL regular season standings with a 0-3-1 record in its fourth season of existence, the blue and white side from Western Canada has kept most games close, losing by identical score lines of 1-0 to Minnesota United FC and the New York Cosmos.
FC Edmonton has struggled offensively, scoring just twice in four league games and will be looking for more from former Canadian international striker Frank Jonke, who’s played every minute for the Eddies so far.
In Boakai however, the Eddies may have found an answer to their scoring ineptitude despite being just 17-years-old. The Edmonton native of Guinean descent had played just 23 minutes in league play before exploding in the home leg of the preliminary round of the ACC, while helping 2013 team leading scorer and former Ireland youth international Fordyce break out of his early season scoring drought.
Upcoming home games
The Impact will look to avenge an earlier loss to Sporting Kansas City this Saturday, at Stade Saputo, at 4pm EDT in MLS action.
The return leg of the ACC is set for 7:30pm EDT next Wednesday, May 14, at Stade Saputo.
