Fourth away game in five for Bleu-blanc-noir before two-week break
HOUSTON, Texas – The Montreal Impact travels to BBVA Compass Stadium to face Houston Dynamo, still unbeaten at home in MLS, this Wednesday night at 8:30pm EDT (TVA Sports [pregame show at 8pm], 98,5fm [pregame show at 8pm], TSN Radio 690 [pregame show at 7pm]). After this game, the sixth in 18 days across all competitions, the Bleu-blanc-noir will benefit from a two-week break while the CONCACAF Gold Cup will be played in the United States.
“This will be our last game in this difficult run of games,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We have had good performances in this run and we want to continue. The conditions will be difficult, but we have to be stronger than that. Our mindset needs to be right for us to overcome the conditions. We want to have a good performance and finish the first half of the season in the right way.”
Extreme conditions forecast in Texas
Currently sitting on a three-game win streak at home in MLS, the Impact will look to earn a second away win this term in a stadium that was never very welcoming for the Montreal squad. In six games in Houston, they only found one point to bring back home. Typically in this fixture, the home team wins, a scenario that repeated itself 10 times out of 11 games between the former rivals.
Texas is currently going through an intense heat wave and tomorrow night’s game will not be spared. The apparent temperature will reach 40 degrees Celsius and the humidex could go as high as 75% in the evening.
“We are playing away, it will be very hot and very humid. These are significant factors during a game,” said defender Laurent Ciman. “Last Saturday’s win was positive, we feel good mentally, we found reasons to smile again. We cannot think that everything is won and we need to double our efforts to get a win over there.”
Blerim Dzemaili dominates
Designated Player Blerim Dzemaili continues winning supporters all over Montreal and MLS. Named on the MLS Team of the week and nominated for the MLS Goal of the week, the Swiss international has registered a point in his past five league games, scoring three goals and adding four assists in this prolific streak – tying in the meantime the Bleu-blanc-noir’s record in MLS, established by Didier Drogba last year. If he takes part to a goal on Wednesday, he would tie the club’s all-time record held by Nick De Santis since 1997.
For his part, Hernán Bernardello, since coming back in the lineup two games ago, has registered two assists. Moreover, Chris Duvall, if he gets on the field, will play his 75th MLS career game.
Many players missing out for the hosts
The Dynamo will have to make do without its three Honduran internationals. Midfielder Boniek García, as well as strikers Romell Quioto and Alberth Elis, have already joined the Honduras team for the Gold Cup, while top goal scorer Erick Torres, with 12 goals to his account, has been called up by Mexico and will reach El Tri after the game against the Impact. Ex Bleu-blanc-noir midfielder Eric Alexander is out because of a knee injury, but Andrew Wenger, the Impact’s first MLS SuperDraft pick, will be available to head coach Wilmer Cabrera.
Upcoming games
The Impact will benefit from a two-week break because of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, in the United States. The Bleu-blanc-noir will play a friendly game against USL affiliate club Ottawa Fury FC on Wednesday, July 12, at TD Place in Ottawa, before returning to action on Wednesday, July 19, at 7:30pm at Stade Saputo, in a crucial game against Philadelphia Union (TVA Sports, 985sports.ca, CJAD 800 – TICKETS).
