Impact hosts Columbus in must win game
The season is truly coming down to the wire now, and with three games to go, the Impact is still in the playoff race, sitting in the sixth and last playoff spot. But nothing is certain for Rémi Garde’s men as they approach this final stretch of games, so gaining a maximum amount of points from their remaining matchups will be crucial for their postseason hopes.
That road starts with a game against the Columbus Crew SC, this Saturday, October 6, at 3pm at Stade Saputo (TICKETS – TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5fm, TSN 690) . Columbus, currently sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference, will also be looking for a big result away from home, to keep the Philadelphia Union behind them until the end of the season.
Here are the five main reasons you cannot miss this crucial matchup on Saturday:
The playoff race is as tight as could be
It really is. And it has been for a while. The Impact continues to hang on to that sixth and last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. D.C. United, in seventh, sits just two points behind them after its victory over the Bleu-blanc-noir on the weekend, and with two games in hand.
The New England Revolution aren’t too far behind as well, just five points away, which makes the game against your Montreal Impact on October 29th all the more interesting.
Point being that this is a must-win game for Rémi Garde’s men, and in a way, it is for the Columbus Crew as well. Should make for a high-intensity football match.
Good at home lately
Not only lately, actually. In the second half of the season, the Impact has been dominant at home. Since it lost 1-0 to Zlatan Ibrahimović and the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Impact has gone unbeaten at home, the exception being a 2-1 loss to Atlanta United on July 28. That’s just one loss in nine games at Stade Saputo, including the four-game unbeaten streak they’re on right now.
The Impact has made Stade Saputo its fortress over the course of a season. On Saturday against the Black & Gold, the Impact will look to make it 10 wins at Stade Saputo this year, something only six other MLS teams have achieved.
Dynamic trio in attack
The Impact has picked it up a notch offensively as of late, something that remains true despite the team not scoring against D.C. United last weekend. The Impact still tried 25 shots during that game, setting a club record for most shots during a road game, and 15 shots in each of their past three games before that, managing eight goals.
A lot of that can be credited to Taïder-Silva-Piatti. The three have been dominant in the second half of the season, combining for 17 goals and 20 assists in the last 16 games, in which the Impact has gone 8-4-4. Watching the South American duo works its magic with the Algerian international is worth the price of admission alone.
Two more games in Montreal…unless….
It seemed like just yesterday, the Montreal Impact was kicking off its 2018 campaign by beating Toronto FC at Olympic stadium in mid-March. Now, with October upon us, the season is coming to a bitter end. Just two more games remain at Stade Saputo, and both will be vitally important for the Impact’s playoff push.
If you haven’t had the chance to make it to Stade Saputo this year, now’s your last chance – unless, of course, the Impact qualifies for the playoffs. Excellent tickets remain available on impactmontreal.com
The team needs its 12th player
With the Impact looking to bounce back after a tough loss in the American capital, the team needs its 12th man now more than ever. The support, the cheers, the sheer noise, are what will be needed to tilt the momentum in the home team’s favour in this crucial end of season matchup.
Like head coach Rémi Garde said to the media Thursday morning, “when the crowd is behind us and there’s a positive energy in the stadium, it makes the players feel good.”
Not too mention Bacary Sagna told you to be there. You should probably listen to Bacary Sagna.
