Montreal Impact – Real Salt Lake
Saturday, May 11, 2pm (ET)
Stade Saputo, Montreal
TV: TVA, TVA Sports
Radio: CJAD 800
Web: illico web, MLS Live
Mobile: illico mobile
Download: Game notes (PDF)
MONTREAL, Quebec - The Montreal Impact (5-2-2) hosts Real Salt Lake (5-4-2) on Saturday, at 2pm (ET), at Stade Saputo. This will be the sixth of seven games in just 22 days. The game will be broadcast live on TVA and on the radio at CJAD 800, and is available using illico mobile, illico web and MLS Live. You can get live updates using the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.
For Mother’s Day, excellent tickets remain via the Admission network (admission.com / 1-855-790-1245) or via the Stade Saputo ticket office. Special ticket packages are being offered for this special weekend.
Head-to-head
This will be the first and only matchup between these two teams in 2013. Last season, the team’s met only once, when the Montreal Impact fell 1-0 to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium, on April 5, in Salt Lake. Forward Paulo Junior scored the only goal of the game on a penalty kick in the 13th minute.
BUY TICKETS : Impact vs Real Salt Lake
Back home after a long road trip
“We are playing against a team that has earned a certain status in this league over the years,” said Patrice Bernier. “They have been successful, very difficult to beat and won an MLS Cup a few years ago. They lost a few pieces from last year, but they are still finding ways to win games. After a long road trip, we are looking forward to playing off of the good vibes we get at Stade Saputo.”
The Impact lost 1-0 in its first-ever meeting against Real Salt Lake on April 5, 2012 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
(Getty Images)
“This is a very important game as we have to return to our winning ways, especially when we play at home,” said Felipe. “We need to be a little bit more attentive to certain details in our game, and if we do that, we can get a result.”
“RSL is coming off of a good result against New England,” added Justin Mapp. “They have a talented team with a lot of veterans and players from their system. We are going to have to be ready to go from the whistle and make sure we put in a 90 minute effort. We’ll feed off of the great support our fans give us at every game.”
Impact news
The Impact looks to return to its winning ways following just its second defeat of the season on Wednesday, falling 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls, at Red Bull Arena. Thierry Henry scored a brace for the home team and Di Vaio scored his fifth of the season.
In its previous matchup, the Impact played the Earthquakes to a 2-2 draw on the road last Saturday in San Jose, where midfielder Justin Mapp scored a brace of his own.
The Impact is undefeated at home this season (3-0-1) and forward Marco Di Vaio has scored in each of the team’s home games.
READ: Schällibaum explains squad rotation with heavy schedule
The team now sits tied for third spot in the Eastern Conference with 17 points in nine games played, just three out of first.
Real Salt Lake news
Real Salt Lake is second in the Western Conference with 17 points. The team opened its three-game road trip in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes and getting a stoppage time penalty kick save from GK Nick Rimando to down the New England Revolution 2-1 at Gillette Stadium.
In 10 games played, RSL’s Nick Rimando has made 35 saves (3rd in MLS) on 43 shots faced, good for a .80 goals against average (3rd) and a save percentage of 81% (1st in MLS) with three shutouts.
READ: Head-to-head: Troy Perkins vs Nick Rimando
Playing without all-time scoring leader Álvaro Saborío (3G) due to injury, Real Salt Lake showed they have some offensive answers this season as two rookies, Devon Sandoval and Olmes García, both netted goals. With Saborio and Robbie Findley struggling with injuries, and expected to miss Saturday’s game, these two youngsters are set to see some action this weekend.
Midfielder Joao Plata, acquired from Toronto FC in the offseason, has had a positive effect on the squad with four helpers in nine appearances.
Upcoming Games
The Impact’s next matchup is the first leg of the aggregate goal home and away final series of the Amway Canadian Championship against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at Stade Saputo on May 15, 7:30pm ET. The second leg is set for May 29 at BC Place.
BUY TICKETS : Amway Canadian Championship final vs Whitecaps
The team’s next regular season game will take place at Stade Saputo on May 25, 7pm ET, against the Philadelphia Union.
