HARRISON, New Jersey – The Montreal Impact is closing out its season with a busy week, playing its second of three games in just eight days this Wednesday at 8pm EDT, against the New York Red Bulls (Sportsnet World) at Red Bull Arena, in its final matchup of the CONCACAF Champions League group stage.
Although the team has already clinched top spot in group 3, a win could put IMFC as a top seed moving forward in the tournament with 12 points, resuming in February 2015.
One of the top four seeds out of the eight that qualify for the home and away quarter-final series, with seeding based on results from the group stage, will have home field advantage in the second leg.
“We ae going there to take all three points and put ourselves in the best position possible,” explained Maxim Tissot. “The message here is clear, we want to win and be one of the top seeds.”
“We are going to play a very good team regardless if we finish at the top of the group,” added head coach Frank Klopas. “Finishing as a higher seed would help us being in a better position if we face a big club from Mexico early on next year.”
As for its opponents, despite being eliminated from the tournament and focus put mainly on its final game of the season this Saturday as they prepare for the playoffs, the Red Bulls will be a dangerous team, no matter who takes the pitch Wednesday night.
And although it is expected that there will be a number of different faces in the New York starting lineup, Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush believes the Impact just needs to focus on its own game.
“There will be guys who are fighting for jobs. It’s an important game for us. We are worried about seeding in CONCACAF, so we need to focus on our game and not who they put out on the field.”
The Impact will return home Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s final game of the 2014 season, taking on D.C. United at Stade Saputo at 4pm in what will be the final game of Marco Di Vaio’s distinguished career.
Excellent tickets still remain for the match and are available through ticketmaster.ca or by calling the Stade Saputo ticket office.
GAME NOTES:
- Midfielder Felipe has one goal and five assists in seven regular season games against the Red Bulls. His goal against Toronto FC last weekend is up for Goal of the Week.
- Marco Di Vaio is suspended for the game after seeing two yellow cards in group play thus far.
- Despite falling to the Columbus Crew 3-1 last Sunday, the New York Red Bulls can still finish as high as third place in the Eastern Conference MLS Cup Playoffs picture with a win against Sporting Kansas City on October 26 and a Columbus Crew loss or draw against Philadelphia.
- Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips still leads the MLS Golden Boot race with 25 goals after scoring against Toronto FC on October 11 in a 3-1 win. The Englishman is just two shy of the single season record with one game remaining.
