MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact is back at Stade Saputo, this Saturday, facing Toronto FC at 4pm EDT (RDS [pregame show at 3:30pm], TSN4, 98,5fm and TSN Radio 690 [pregame show at 3pm]). The game is sold out as all 20,801 tickets have been sold.
The club encourages supporters to get to Stade Saputo early to avoid traffic around Olympic Park and overcrowding at the entrance. Doors open at 2:30pm.
Rivalry stoked by end-of-season meetings
The Impact will be taking on its Toronto rival in a competitive game for the first time since the end of the 2015 season, when Montreal defeated TFC 2-1 on Decision Day and ensured that a Knockout Round matchup would be played at Stade Saputo. The Impact then eliminated Toronto from the MLS Cup Playoffs at that very stage, winning 3-0.
“We experienced strong emotions against them last season, so we’re expecting a great battle,” said head coach Mauro Biello. “They have done very well despite having to play on the road early this season. For our part, we’re back at our home. We’re taking on a good team, so we have to be ready.”
The Eastern Conference-leading Impact (4-2-0, 12 pts) showed character in a deserved 2-1 win at Chicago, last Saturday, after a win against Columbus Crew SC the previous weekend. The team will be looking to build on that momentum in its Stade Saputo home opener.
The Impact has enjoyed success against TFC at home, posting a 7-2-1 record in all competitions against its rivals. Former TFC man Dominic Oduro has scored five goals and given one assist against his former side during his career, while forward Didier Drogba tallied twice in his only regular season matchup against the Reds.
Ignacio Piatti, whose fourth goal of the season made the difference in Chicago, shares third place in the goal scorers table with six other players. Piatti is also tied with four other players at the top of the game-winning goals column, with two tallies.
Dominic Oduro, meanwhile, is tied with three other players that have delivered three assists so far, good for third in the league. He is also tied for first with two game-winning assists, alongside four MLS colleagues.
“Toronto is going to see that we are a better team than we were last year,” said Dominic Oduro. “We’ve improved, and we’re really hungry to make our crowd really happy. Every win brings more confidence in our locker room, and we just want to keep that momentum going.”
TFC waiting for its home
While they do have to play their first eight games on the road due to renovations at BMO Field, the Reds (2-2-2, 8 pts) have done well, reaching fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Star forward Sebastian Giovinco has already found his groove, scoring four goals and delivering two assists thus far this season.
“They’ll be out for revenge, because they haven’t forgotten what happened last year,” said Didier Drogba. “They’ve started the season well. Being first in our conference, we’ll try to take advantage of our experience and of our playing qualities, as we’ve done this season, in order to win.”
Head coach Greg Vanney will be without French midfielder Benoît Cheyrou for three to five weeks due to a quadriceps injury. Forward Tsubasa Endoh also suffered a quad injury, but he returned to full training this Thursday and will be available for selection against the Impact.
Next games
The Montreal Impact’s following home game takes place on Saturday, April 30, at 4pm EDT against the Colorado Rapids (RDS, 98,5fm &TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets, as well as season tickets starting at $98 per month and Pick-4-Packs, are still available on impactmontreal.com. In the meantime, the Impact will return on the road next Wednesday, April 27, at 7pm EDT at Yankee Stadium against New York City FC (RDS & TSN Radio 690).
