Toronto FC – Montreal Impact
Wednesday, July, 3, 2013 - 7pm (ET)
BMO Field
TV: RDS, TSN
Mobile: illico mobile
TORONTO, Ontario – The Montreal Impact (9-4-2) looks to bounce back from its home loss last Saturday as it travels to face Toronto FC (2-8-6) at BMO Field on Wednesday night, at 7pm ET. The game will be broadcast live on TSN, RDS and illico mobile. You can also get live updates using the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.
The Impact sits in first place in the Eastern Conference standings, having earned 29 points from 15 games played, one point ahead of the New York Red Bulls with three games in hand.
WATCH:Preview vs TOR
Head-to-head
This is the fourth of five games between these teams in 2013. The Impact won the first regular season matchup 2-1 in the team’s home opener at Olympic Stadium on March 16, 2013.
The Impact also won the home and away aggregate goal series against TFC 6-2 in the semi-final of the Amway Canadian Championship, losing the first leg 2-0 on April 24 at BMO Field before winning 6-0 on May 1 at Stade Saputo.
Midfielders Davy Arnaud and Sanna Nyassi have each scored two career goals against Toronto.
Impact news
The Montreal Impact lost for the first time at home this season on Saturday, falling to the Colorado Rapids by a 4-3 score. Despite the loss, forward Daniele Paponi opened his account in MLS with a brace, including a fantastic shot that curled into the top right corner. Not to be outdone, defender Hassoun Camara scored a bicycle kick from the seat of his pants after he was knocked to the ground. Both goals are nominated for Goal of the Week honours in MLS.
READ: Impact will look to rebound quickly in Toronto
After winning only two games on the road in 2012, the Impact has already recorded three wins in seven games this season, with an overall record of 3-3-1.
Striker Marco Di Vaio leads the Impact with 10 goals and 29 shots on goal, while midfielder Patrice Bernier is first with five assists.
TFC News
Toronto is coming off of a 1-0 shutout loss to Real Salt Lake this past weekend, its league leading fourth home defeat of the 2013 in MLS, and has won just once in its last nine games (1-2-6).
Toronto has made a significant number of roster changes over the last few weeks, starting with the non-renewal of loan agreements for both Englishmen Hogan Ephraim and John Bostock and the release of Canadian midfielder Terry Dunfield.
In come Scottish defender Steven Caldwell, formerly of Leeds United and Newcastle of the EPL; Australian international forward Jeremie Brockie and former US international Bobby Convey, acquired in a trade with SKC.
Dutch striker Danny Koevermans is looking to find his form, having just recently returned from injury, but did manage two goals against the Impact in a Reserve League match that TFC won 5-0 last week in Montreal.
Toronto FC announced Tuesday that the club acquired midfielder Michael Thomas from Sporting KC in exchange for the club’s second round draft pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft – having spent parts of the last few seasons in Sweden.
TFC will be without a number of Canadian players as they make their way to represent Canada at the Gold Cup, including defenders Ashtone Morgan and Doneil Henry, as well as midfielders Jonathon Osario and Kyle Bekker.
Upcoming game
The team heads back to Montreal to take on Chivas USA on multicultural day at Stade Saputo this Sunday at 7pm ET.