Montreal Impact – D.C. United
Wednesday, June 11, 2014 – 7:30pm (EDT)
Stade Saputo
TV: RDS2, TSN
Radio: TSN 690
Mobile: Impact mobile app
Twitter: @impactmontreal
MONTREAL – Having lost only once in its last six games, the Montreal Impact (2-6-4) will be looking to enter the two-week MLS break on a high note as it hosts D.C. United (6-4-4) Wednesday night, at Stade Saputo (7:30pm EDT) in its final matchup before all eyes turn to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup.
“It’s kind of a tricky game with a break coming up right after,” said head coach Frank Klopas. “We can’t think ahead of ourselves. We have games in hand and now we have to continue to come out with a strong mentality and attitude. We need to make sure we are doing the things we’ve been doing lately.”
The importance of playing at home has been evident for the Impact in recent weeks, having won its last three home matches across all competitions, allowing just two goals and earning two shutouts (totaling 206 minutes of play without allowing a goal).
Sandwiched in between that string of victories was a 1-1 draw in Washington against D.C., where fortune started to change for the bleu-blanc-noir.
“In D.C. we did some good things, we found chances and it was one of those games that we started to turn things around,” explained captain Patrice Bernier. “We know we’ll create chances, so we need to try and keep the zero on the scoreboard for them as long as possible. We need to win those close games.”
And with D.C. sitting in third spot in the Eastern Conference, but struggling on the road so far this season (one win in six matches), getting a result at home becomes all the more important, so Klopas and his coaching staff aren’t taking their opponents lightly.
“It’s important that we keep focused, especially here at home,” added Klopas. “The opponent needs to know that we will do whatever it takes to get a result. They are a team that if you lose your concentration at any point, they will hurt you with guys like Espindola and Johnson in the final third.”
“We are on a good run right now so we want to continue our form,” explained Bernier. “We want to enter the break with a good feeling and confidence for when you come back. It’s also against an Eastern rival, so we need to make sure we don’t lose focus.”
On a more nostalgic note, former Impact captain Davy Arnaud returns to his old stomping grounds after wearing the armband for the club’s first two seasons in MLS. Since joining the black and red in an offseason trade, he’s played all 14 games (13 starts), totaling 1,100 minutes, while scoring twice this season.
GAME NOTES
- NEXT GAME: The Impact will then play its next game in Vancouver against the Whitecaps FC on Wednesday, June 25, at 10pm EDT.
- Striker Jack McInerney has scored five goals in his last eight games, including three in the team’s Amway Canadian Championship. He has scored six goals since joining the team and is tied for the team lead with Andres Romero at three goals in MLS, the latter having scored twice in his last two games. Jack Mac also has four career goals versus D.C., while Marco Di Vaio has three.
- D.C. United played the Columbus Crew to a draw in its last game, in Ohio at FedEx Field this past weekend.
- Fabian Espindola leads the black and red in scoring with seven goals and five assists.
