Montreal Impact – Sporting Kansas City
Saturday, July 27, 2013 - 7pm (ET)
Stade Saputo
TV: TSN2/RDS
Radio: CJAD 800
Mobile: illico mobile
MONTREAL, Quebec – The Montreal Impact (9-5-5) hosts Sporting Kansas City (10-5-6) at Stade Saputo this Saturday, at 7pm (ET). The game will be broadcast live on TSN2 and RDS, as well as on radio at CJAD 800 and illico mobile. You can also get live updates using the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.
The Montreal Impact is currently tied with the New York Red Bulls for second spot in the Eastern Conference standings with 32 points in 19 games played and is just four points out of first with two games in hand on leaders SKC.
This is the third and final matchup between these teams in 2013. In the first meeting on March 30, SKC beat the Impact 2-0 at Sporting Park. The second game ended in a 2-1 victory for the Impact on the road with goals from midfielders Sanna Nyassi and Collen Warner.
- WATCH: KC 2-0 MTL, March 30
- WATCH: KC 1-2 MTL, June 1st
Less than 2,000 excellent tickets available
Saturday’s matchup is presented by Coors Light, with 9,000 individual can coolers to be given away at the stadium.
- Online: admission.com - until 12pm on Saturday
- Admission Network: 1-855-790-1245 - 9am-8pm (but until 12pm Saturday)
- Montreal Impact: 514-328-3668 - Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (9am-4:30pm on Saturday)
- In person: Stade Saputo - Monday to Friday 9am-5pm - Saturday starting at 9am
Season ticket holders will have the chance to renew their memberships for the 2014 season during the game by visiting the President’s Terrace, where refreshments will be offered. For more information on 2014 season tickets, you can visit the Ticket Info kiosk.
Preview vs KC: Marco Schällibaum
Impact news
In its last matchup, the Impact played to a scoreless draw with FC Dallas at Stade Saputo on Saturday night, a matchup in which the Impact did not give up a scoring chance to its opponent over the 90 minutes.
Despite the solid performance, the Impact remains winless in five games, going 0-2-3 over that stretch and the team is currently on a goalless streak of 190 minutes, finding the back of the net last in the 80th minute on a PK by Patrice Bernier versus Chivas USA.
The Impact has yet to lose after scoring the game’s first goal, going 7-0-3 in 10 games and the team is 6-1-1 when leading at half. In 10 home games, the Impact has allowed only three goals in the first half.
Although being outshot in 11 of the team’s 19 games this (282-250), the Impact leads opponents in shots on goal (101-88).
The Impact has also improved on its discipline in 2013, having committed the least amount of fouls in MLS with 189 so far, playing nine games this year with less than 10 fouls committed.
Midfielder Justin Mapp has scored four career markers versus SKC, while Sanna Nyassi and Patrice Bernier each have two.
Troy Perkins is the only Impact player to have started every regular season game (19) and to have played every single minute for the team this season. Two other players have appeared in every game: Patrice Bernier and Jeb Brovsky.
Preview vs KC: Matteo Ferrari
Sporting Kansas City News
SKC leads the Eastern Conference with 36 points in 21 games and is just one point behind Real Salt Lake in the Supporter’s Shield race.
In its last matchup, Sporting topped RSL - one of the hottest teams in MLS right now - by a 2-1 score, ending RSL’s 11-game unbeaten streak. Ike Opara’s 97th minute strike gave his side the win. Striker Sony Saad added the other marker for the road team.
SKC is unbeaten in its last six MLS regular season matches (4-0-2) and was last beaten by the Montreal Impact 2-1 at Sporting Park on June 1.
Midfielder Graham Zusi is having another great season for Sporting with four goals and six assists in 19 games played. He has recently been splitting time between club and country as the U.S. national team is playing in the Gold Cup tournament. Zusi also recently signed a contract extension that will keep him in KC until 2017.
READ: Player watch - Graham Zusi
Zusi, goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen and centre back Matt Besler will join Impact players Marco Di Vaio and Patrice Bernier at the MLS 2013 All-Star game next week versus AS Roma, in KC, on July 31.
Besler, the 2012 MLS defender of the year, is currently with the U.S. Men’s National Team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final against Panama on Sunday in Chicago, while defender Aurelin Collin will miss Saturday’s game due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Striker CJ Sapong was recalled this week from a three-game loan spell with Orlando City, and should be available for selection for Saturday’s matchup.
Upcoming games
The Impact will play its next game on the road in Washington against D.C. United on Saturday, August 3, at 7pm ET.
The team will then return home for its first matchup in CONCACAF Champions league, the team’s opening match of the group stage at Stade Saputo against the Sans Jose Earthquakes, on Wednesday, August 7, at 8pm ET.
