I didn’t hear no bell… one more round…
Remember, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings…
Hey supporters, the Impact is still in the hunt for a playoff spot!
Saturday’s loss was a tough one because the team now finds itself five points out of the final postseason berth in the Eastern Conference. However, the players have not given up on the season just yet and neither should you.
“At the end of the day, there still are twelve points on the board for us,” said team captain Davy Arnaud. “We can go out and get those points, which we’ve done before. We’ve rolled out five games in a row this year already (July 28 to August 25). I don’t see any reason why this team is not capable of going on and winning the last four games. It’s all we can do.”
And even if the Impact does not control its own destiny, goalkeeper Troy Perkins is confident that the team can bounce back with a positive result.
“We will look to get three points at home next weekend and then we can re-evaluate where everything is,” added goalkeeper Troy Perkins. “That’s all we can control and we aim to do just that.”
The Impact has been great at home this season (10-3-2) and one of the biggest advantages has been the backing of its 12th player. That support will be key for Saturday’s matchup versus Sporting Kansas City.
Canadian Championship race
The playoff race is not the only one the Impact is in. The team is currently leading the way for seeding into the 2013 Amway Canadian Championship with 39 points in 30 games, two points ahead of the Vancouver Whitecaps (37PTS, 29GP).
The four team format, which includes Toronto FC (22PTS, 29GP) and FC Edmonton (NASL), seeds the professional soccer clubs based on their league results in first division and then the North American Soccer League, respectively.
The advantage to finishing first is a semi-final matchup versus FC Edmonton, which should technically result in an easier route to the final.
And a first place will translate into the best single season record by a Canadian team in MLS. Not a bad feat for a first-year team.
The playoff picture may look a little fuzzy right now, but on Saturday, the fat lady needs a day off and La Garde can help make that happen by drowning her out.
