MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact returns home, this Saturday, taking on Columbus Crew SC at Olympic Stadium at 4pm EDT (TVA Sports [pregame show at 3:30pm], 98,5fm et TSN Radio 690 [pregame show at 3pm]). This game is presented by the Olympic Park.
The club encourages supporters to get to the stadium early to avoid traffic around Olympic Park and overcrowding at the entrance. Doors open at 2:30pm.
This Saturday’s game will be the third stop in the Jeux du Québec torch tour. On this occasion, the 1976 Olympic Torch, on the 40th anniversary of the Montreal Summer Games, will be used to light the torch for the Jeux du Québec Finals – Montreal 2016. Supporters will also get the opportunity to get a picture with the torches in the Zone Célébration.
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Excellent tickets are still available, starting at $29 (including taxes, plus service charge). Season tickets, as well as Pick-4-Packs, are also available on impactmontreal.com.
A hint of playoffs in the air
Some five months after a heartbreaking elimination in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Impact has another meeting with Crew SC, who knocked Montreal out with a 4-3 aggregate win after extra time in this two-legged series. Still, the Impact had won three times against Columbus in 2015: 2-1 in Columbus on June 6, 3-0 at Stade Saputo on July 11 and 2-1 in the semifinal first leg at home.
“This is another season, and we have to get ready for the 2016 Crew SC,” said head coach Mauro Biello. “We have to be focused on their players that can break us down, but we have a system, and we have to be ready to play the way we can play. At home, we want to find the openings for our key players and put doubt in the opponent’s mind.”
The Impact has posted a 3-1-1 record at home against Crew SC since joining MLS in 2012. Dominic Oduro’s career numbers against Columbus stand at three goals and one assist, while Ignacio Piatti has scored two goals and added an assist.
Piatti remains one of the most successful players since the beginning of the MLS season. He is still tied for second place for goals scored, with three tallies. Piatti and teammate Harry Shipp are two of 12 players that have delivered two assists, the third-most in MLS.
As a team, the Impact (2-2-0, 6 pts) sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind leaders Orlando City SC. The team’s next win will be its 50th in MLS.
“We’ve lost our last two, and we have to climb back up in the standings and show something in front of our supporters,” said defender Laurent Ciman. “We have to react. It’s simply a matter of pride. We’re playing at home, so we must win.”
An opponent without a win
Crew SC has struggled to get going after reaching the last MLS Cup final. The reigning Eastern Conference champions (0-2-2, 2 pts) still haven’t won a game this season – with the caveat that this Saturday’s game is their fourth away date in five games.
“Any team can be beaten in this league,” said defender Donny Toia. “You have to be ready and play a full 90 minutes every game. You can’t turn off. It showed, last game, that any team can win against you if you turn off for a second. We have to stay focused and make sure that we stay in front of them so that they don’t get any easy shots.”
Forward Kei Kamara, who scored 22 goals last season and tallied the extra-time winner in the Eastern Conference semifinal, missed a couple of training sessions this week. He should nevertheless be available for selection by head coach Gregg Berhalter Saturday. Forwards Ola Kamara (thigh) and Conor Casey (concussion) both returned to training this week, but their status for Saturday remain doubtful.
Next games
The Montreal Impact’s next game takes place on Saturday, April 16, at 5pm EDT at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, against the Chicago Fire (TVA Sports, 98,5fm &TSN Radio 690). The Impact will then play its home opener at Stade Saputo on Saturday, April 23, at 4pm EDT against rivals Toronto FC (RDS, TSN, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690).
