Chicago Fire – Montreal Impact
Saturday, September 28, 2013 – 8:30pm (ET)
Toyota Park
TV: TVA Sports
Online: illico web, MLS Live
Mobile: illico mobile
Viewing party: McLean’s Pub (1210 Peel, Montreal)
BRIDGEVIEW, Illinois – With only six games remaining in regular season play, the Montreal Impact (13-9-6) travels to Toyota Park to take on the Chicago Fire (11-12-6) this Saturday, at 8:30pm ET. The game will be broadcast live on TVA Sports and is available online with illico web, illico mobile and MLS Live. You can also get live updates using the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.
The Impact sits in third place in the Eastern Conference standings with 45 points from 28 games played, behind Sporting Kansas City with 48 points and the New York Red Bulls at 51. SKC hosts the Philadelphia Union on Friday night, while the Red Bulls travel to Seattle to take on the Sounders on Sunday.
Head-To-Head
This is the third and final matchup between these teams in 2013. In their first meeting, the Impact shut out the Fire 2-0 on April 27 at Stade Saputo. Andrés Romero and Marco Di Vaio scored for Montreal. The Impact then lost 2-1 on August 10, on August 10 at Toyota Park.
Midfielder Davy Arnaud has scored three career goals against Chicago, including the Impact’s first goal in MLS history. The two sides had tied 1-1 in the Impact’s first ever MLS home opener, March 17, in front of 58,912 supporters at Olympic Stadium.
Preview: Matteo Ferrari
Impact News
The Impact is concluding a tough stretch of five games in 15 days. In its most recent match, the team registered a 2-0 home victory Tuesday night against Guatemalan side CD Heredia in CONCACAF Champions League action. Forwards Daniele Paponi and Andrew Wenger both ended lengthy scoring slumps in the win, but the Impact is effectively eliminated from the tournament based on goal differential.
Montreal is on a two game undefeated streak on the road in MLS play, following a 0-0 draw with the Philadelphia Union on August 31 and a 4-2 victory versus the New England Revolution on September 8, bringing the team’s road record to a respectable 4-6-3.
However, the Impact is coming off of two straight defeats in its last two matches played in regular season, falling both times at home, first 2-1 to the Columbus Crew on September 14 and then 3-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC last Saturday.
Midfielder Justin Mapp’s next appearance for the Impact will be his 50th with the club, while Matteo Ferrari’s next start will be the 50th of his career in MLS.
Brazilian Felipe is suspended after receiving an automatic one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
Fire news
The Chicago Fire is one point out of a playoff spot in the East at 39 points (6th spot), but is solid at home with a 9-4-2 record.
The Fire had a tough outing in its most recent matchup against the Columbus Crew, falling 3-0 after playing with 10-men from the 29th minute on when defender Bakare Soumare was shown a red card. He will serve an automatic one game suspension Saturday.
Summer transfer window signing and Designated Player Juan Luis Anangono has been called into the starting lineup for his team’s last two games where he’s scored a goal against New England.
The Fire can also rely on leading scorer Mike Magee as an offensive threat, having found the back of the net 16 times this season, second in MLS behind Impact Marco Di Vaio’s 18.
Upcoming games
These two clubs will meet again on Sunday, at 11am (ET) in MLS Reserve League play, at the Toyota Park training field.
The Impact will then play a rare Friday night game at BBVA Compass Stadium against the Dynamo in Houston, on October 4 at 8:30pm ET.
