Impact to play first game at Stade Saputo in almost a year
There’s a reason we all feel attracted to the place we call home. There’s a reason we miss it when we go away. There’s a reason why the following expression is so popular: there’s no place like home.
It’s been over 10 months since the Impact has played its last game at Stade Saputo, a dominant 3-0 victory against the New York Red Bulls to close out the 2019 season. Since then, the Impact went three times to Olympic Stadium in February and March, although as you may know, the enormous structure a few yards away from where the Impact usually plays can hardly be compared to Stade Saputo’s comfort.
For the first time this season, the Impact will play where it’s meant to play: Stade Saputo. Albeit it will be a little different without the usual ruckus caused by the thousands of supporters present, the familiar ground will certainly benefit the Montreal side. And there will be 250 supporters present, as the Impact becomes the first major team to host supporters in Canada since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We’re coming from Orlando, where there was no one,” said head coach Thierry Henry. “The stadium will seem full for us tomorrow. We’re at home now. We can leave training and return to our families. You can establish something more solid, which wasn’t the case in Orlando. Stade Saputo is familiar to the players, even if it won’t be full. It changes things a bit.”
Montreal will open this phase of the season by hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Stade Saputo tonight, at 8pm. The West Coast representatives are coming off two losses in their first games back against TFC.
“It’s beautiful,” said Impact forward Romell Quioto. “It’s amazing to have the chance to play in front of a crowd again. The four games we played in Orlando without a crowd was something completely different. Playing in front of a crowd is part of our job, so it’s important to me, but also to the team, even if it’s only 250 supporters. Nonetheless, we know the support from those fans will be important.”
In a season like no other, it’s easy to lose track of what’s been going on. So, we’re to make it easy as easy as can be for you.
With travel across the border more complicated than usual, the MLS had to get creative when it came to Canadian teams. The Impact will therefore play its next six games against Canadian opponents, meaning the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Toronto FC. They’ll host both Vancouver and Toronto at home this week.
What’s at stake
For these three teams, the next six games will be of vital importance for the playoff race. With what comes next on the schedule unclear after these next six games and with all three clubs in prime position to qualify for the playoffs, the goal will be to sit above the dotted line once the MLS proceeds with the next phase of the season.
But there’s another twist involved for the Canadian teams in MLS. With the Canadian Championship still at play, the points leader after this six-game series will also qualify directly to the Canadian Championship final, where they will face the winner of the Canadian Premier League tournament.
“We didn’t know it was going to be that way, but once again, we have to adapt,” added Henry. “Toronto is ahead now, and we need to catch up. This is the path to the Champions League for us, so it’s important. At the end of the day, three points are three points, and we need those three points to stay with the pack in the Eastern Conference.”
