Montreal Impact – Seattle Sounders FC
Saturday, June 16, 2012, 7:30pm (ET)
Stade Saputo
Broadcast: RDS, TSN2, CJAD 800
Also available on: illico Mobile
MONTREAL, Quebec – Following a three-week break from regular season action, the Montreal Impact (3-7-3) will play its first ever game in the new version of Stade Saputo this Saturday at 7:30pm (ET), against the Seattle Sounders FC (7-3-3). The game will be broadcast live on RDS, TSN2 and CJAD 800, and will be available on illico Mobile.
Tickets are still available for tomorrow’s game via admission or by calling the Stade Saputo ticket office directly at 514-328-3668. The Stade Saputo ticket office will be open tomorrow from 9am in order to purchase tickets or pick up tickets previously purchased.
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The Impact starts a series of five games in 15 days in June, currently sitting in eighth spot in the Eastern Conference, and looks to bring some of the success it had at the Olympic Stadium over to its new home, losing only once in five matches (2-1-2).
“Seattle is a club I have a lot of respect for,” said Impact head coach Jess Marsch. “It’s a difficult way to start at our new home but, I think it’s also a good way to start off by facing a good team right off the bat. The stadium is probably one of the premier venues in the league and we want to make it a tough place to come and play starting Saturday.”
WATCH: Preview vs Seattle
“We are really excited about playing our first game at the new stadium,” added defender Zarek Valentin, who could make a return to the starting lineup after being out of action for over a month with a right calf contusion. “We are excited to get things going again after the break. Seattle has some dangerous players, especially down the wings, but I think we are ready them.”
In its last game back on May 26, the Impact lost 3-2 to the Colorado Rapids on the road. Patrice Bernier and Andrew Wenger each scored their second goals of the season in the loss. On the same day, Seattle tied its last regular season game against Chivas USA 1-1 to remain undefeated on the road this season (2-0-3). However, the Sounders have played two US Open Cup matches since then, winning both games by a 10-1 margin.
This will be the first ever meeting in MLS between the two clubs, having met a number of times over the years in second division soccer. The Impact’s record versus Seattle at home is 5-7-0, and sits at 9-13-2 all-time.
The Montreal Impact has a number of connections to the Sounders. Midfielder Sanna Nyassi played two seasons with Seattle, in 2009 and 2010, scoring two goals and three assists in 38 games. Forward Miguel Montaño began his MLS career with Seattle, appearing in eight games with the pro club in 2010 and 2011. Defender Tyson Wahl played 39 games with the Sounders between 2009 and 2011 before being traded to Montreal last November.
Acquired by the Impact from the Sounders on February 17, midfielder Lamar Neagle scored five goals and added two assists in 23 matches for last season’s Open Cup champions.
“This game will be exciting for me,” said midfielder Lamar Neagle. “I have family coming in for this game, against my old team, in our new stadium. I’m looking forward to it. We want to get this next stretch off to a good start, but it won’t be easy. Seattle is a good team near the top in the West. They move the ball around well and have a lot of threats.”
Impact goalkeeper coach Preston Burpo distinguished himself during nine seasons and 143 matches with the Seattle Sounders in the North American second division, from 1997 to 2005.
The Sounders are one of only three teams in the league to have all three Designated Player spots filled. Argentinean Mauro Rosales joined Colombian Fredy Montero (2010) and Uruguayan Alvaro Fernandez (2010) this offseason. They all have made significant contributions to the team’s success. Rosales has been a stalwart in midfield, while Montero has tallied four goals and three assists in May, adding to the 22 he’s scored over the previous two seasons. Fernandez has been limited to seven games this season, but scored nine times in 2011.
Impact defendersHassoun Camara and Nelson Rivas chould miss Saturday’s game due to injury.
On the Sounders side, David Estrada has not traveled to Montreal. He will need surgery on a fractured foot, keeping him out of action for at least 2 months.
Upcoming matches
The Impact will fly out to Los Angeles on Monday, to prepare for its next match versus Chivas USA on Wednesday, at 10:30 pm (ET), at the Home Depot Center. The Impact will then return to Stade Saputo, on Saturday, June 23, to host Brian Ching, Andre Hainault, and the Houston Dynamo. New 12-game season ticket packages for all matches at Stade Saputo are available via impactmontreal.com, or by calling 514-328-3668.
Game Notes
- Midfielder Felipe is tied for third in the league in fouls committed with 30, and is the only Impact player to have played every minute so far this season.
- Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is 7th in the league with 39 saves.
- Captain Davy Arnaud is second in the league with 33 fouls suffered.
- The Impact has out-shot their opponents 37 to 21 in the last two games.
- Midfielder Justin Mapp is one goal shy of 20 for his career.
- Davy Arnaud’s next start will be his 225th in the MLS.
