One team already in the playoffs, another team facing a steep, steep hill to climb.
This is the scenario that awaits the Gillette Stadium crowd in Foxborough at 4pm this Sunday. The Montreal Impact, which can still improve its seeding ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs, takes on seventh-placed New England Revolution (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690 and IMFC Live viewing party). If they want to reach sixth place in the Eastern Conference, the Revs have to beat the Impact, making up a 12-goal gap on goal difference against the Philadelphia Union, which has to lose at home to the New York Red Bulls.
Long story short, numbers tell you that no other opponent this season will be ready to take more risks against the Impact than the Revolution.
“They needed to win in Chicago, and the game seemed to be pretty back-and-forth,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. The thing with games like that is that they’re going to throw a lot of numbers forward, whether they feel that it’s realistic or not. We’re going to get chances just because of that. You never even know if they’re going to play the guys they normally play or if they feel that they’ve essentially been eliminated.”
“There are a lot of things that you try to predict at this time of year, but if you get into that mindset, it’s too hard,” Bush continued. “We’re just going to concentrate on us and play the game that we need to play. If they want to try and score 12 goals or whatever, we’ll try to use the space that they leave open.”
One thing is for sure, though: the Impact will then return to the field next Wednesday or Thursday for the Knockout Round. While the coaching staff certainly has to mull over some tactical decisions, the players approach this game with serenity.
“We’ll go to New England with no other pressure than our will to win,” said defender Hassoun Camara. “This game has no consequence other than the location of our Knockout Round game. We’ll try to play our game and make sure that we work well during the week to use our assets and be aware of our strengths.”
