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Preview: Impact Takes on Sporting KC at Sporting Park this Saturday

March 29, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Club de Foot Montreal News Release


KANSAS CITY - The Montreal Impact look to remain undefeated this season as it travels to take on Sporting Kansas City this Saturday, at 8:30 pm (ET), at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas. The game will be broadcast live on TVA Sports and also available on illico mobile, illico web and MLS Live, or you can get live updates using the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.

Pre-game comments

"It's not easy to win games on the road," said Impact assistant coach Mauro Biello. "We did well in Seattle and Portland, but we need to be ready for another tough game against Kansas City. We have to remain compact in the midfield and be ready to take advantage of our counterattacks."

"We need to make slight changes when on the road, but the core of what we are about remains the same," said Impact captain Davy Arnaud. "It's going to be tough. They are a very good team at home that like to press the game and they will come out with something to prove."

"It felt good to get back out there," said Justin Mapp, after returning to the pitch last weekend following a calf injury that kept him out of the previous two contests. "It was nice to get the win and we need to take that momentum into Kansas City against a team with some strong players like Graham Zusi in the midfield and a strong backline. We have to go out there and be ready to make it tough on them."

Impact news The Impact registered four straight wins after shutting out the New York Red Bulls 1-0 at Olympic Stadium last Saturday, on a goal by Marco Di Vaio (2G). Goalkeeper Troy Perkins earned his second shutout of the season and is leading the league in wins and shutoutsThe Impact looks for its third win on the road, which would better the team's road record from all of last season, by returning to the place of its first ever win away from Montreal. (see head-to-head for more details).

The Impact registered four straight wins after shutting out the New York Red Bulls 1-0 at Olympic Stadium last Saturday, on a goal by Marco Di Vaio (2G). Goalkeeper Troy Perkins earned his second shutout of the season and is leading the league in wins and shutoutsThe Impact looks for its third win on the road, which would better the team's road record from all of last season, by returning to the place of its first ever win away from Montreal. (see head-to-head for more details).

The Impact's first two road victories came in its first two matches of the season, a 1-0 win against the Sounders in Seattle on opening weekend and then 2-1 versus the Timbers in Portland. Felipe (1G, 1A), captain Davy Arnaud (1G, 1A) and defender Hassoun Camara (1G) scored away from home.

Head to head

The Impact's first ever matchup against SKC was also its first ever win on the road, a 2-0 victory at Sporting Park on May 5, 2012. Midfielders Felipe and Patrice Bernier (1G, 3A) scored for the away team. Sporting returned the favour on July 4, topping the Impact 3-1 at Stade Saputo with Bernier the lone goal scorer for the home team. Then, on September 22, despite a dominating performance, the Impact plays to a scoreless draw at home, with Perkins earning the shutout.

During the Disney Pro Classic preseason tournament, the Impact bested SKC 1-0 in group action on a goal by Di Vaio before going on to win the tournament.

Injury Report

OUT: M - Sinisa Ubiparipovic (calf); D - Nelson Rivas (knee), Alessandro Nesta (adductor strain) - PROBABLE: D - MaximTissot (knee).

Sporting Kansas City news

The 2012 Eastern Conference regular season champs have managed just one win in its first four games, going 1-1-2. Following a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union in the season opener, SKC has managed just one goal in its last three matches, including two consecutive 0-0 stalemates, with last weekend's coming against the Revolution in New England.

Kansas City has been without centre back Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi, called into camp for the US national team's World Cup qualifiers. Starting right back Chance Myers missed the last two games after aggravating a quad strain and it will be some time before forwards Jacob Peterson (shoulder) and Teal Bunbury (ACL) are cleared to play.

Although Zusi and Besler should be back and ready to go for theImpact's visit, SKC lost Kei Kamara, who was loaned out to Norwich City of the EPL and midfielder Julio Cesar, who was moved to Toronto FC.

SKC did replace Kamara's firepower up front by bringing in Argentinean striker Claudio Bieler as a DP, who already has two of SKC's four goals scored this season. Former US international midfielder Benny Feilhaber was brought in from the Revs to fill Cesar's spot and defender Ike Opara was acquired from the San Jose Earthquakes.

Former Impact defender/midfielder Josh Gardner was acquired by Kansas City in an offseason trade, but has yet to see the field.

Next Game

The Impact has a bye-week next weekend as the originally scheduled matchup versus the Galaxy in LA was moved to October 16 due to CONCACAF Champions League commitments for the 2012 MLS Cup champions.

The team will host the Columbus Crew at 2pm (ET) on Saturday, April 13 in its first game of the season at Stade Saputo. Single game tickets for all of the team's home games are available via the Admission network ( 5bbbeba5676cddcd2956bd151 admission.com/ tel:1-855-790-1245 1-855-790-1245) or via the Stade Saputo ticket office (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm).

2013 season tickets are still available in seven categories, at a cost of $295, $385, $475, $580, $770 and $1070. You can assure your spot for the 2013 season by contacting the Impact's sales and services team at tel:514-328-3668 514-328-3668. Show your support for your club by paying for your tickets using your Montreal Impact BMO credit card.


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