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Club de Foot Montreal

Impact Opens Regular Season Play at D.C. United on Saturday

March 6, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club de Foot Montreal News Release


WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the agreement reached between the league and the MLS Players' Union on Wednesday evening, the Montreal Impact officially kicks off its 2015 MLS regular season campaign this Saturday in Washington, versus D.C. United, at 3pm ET (RDS, TSN690) at RFK Stadium.

"We have to bring the same energy and emotion to this game," said head coach Frank Klopas. "We have to make sure that from day one and game one, we have the consistency all year long that we didn't have last year and get off to a good start. Technically, we have good players and we have high goals for this season."

With a complete overhaul of its roster in the offseason, IMFC will look to the likes of MLS-experienced career goal scorers in Dominic Oduro (48G) and Jack McInerney (32G) to lead the offence.

They won't be alone, however, as the team can count on its Argentine Designated Player Ignacio "Nacho" Piatti from the start of the season, while Belgium international defender Laurent Ciman will help shore the backline.

Add to that the midfield presence of Nigel Reo-Coker and the experience of Marco Donadel, and the new-look Impact has a lot of depth down the spine with veterans like Justin Mapp, who is two games shy of reaching the 300 games played plateau.

Midfielder Eric Alexander and goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, both of whom were cup tied and could not appear for the Impact in CCL play, will be available.

D.C. United was the top seed in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal stage, but fell to Costa Rican side Alajuelense 6-4 on aggregate despite winning its home leg Wednesday night 2-1.

However, D.C. United was the top team in the Eastern Conference last season with 59 points (17-9-8), good for third overall in MLS, and was tied for the best goals against in the entire league.

"They were the top team in the East last year and they brought back most of their group," explained goalkeeper Evan Bush.

"It's going to be a tough challenge as they are a dynamic group offensively, and they are a solid group at the back, but I think we are ready for it."

They have some good offensive weapons in Luis Silva (11G, 4A) and Eddie Johnson (7G, 3), but will be without leading point getter Fabian Espindola (11G, 7A), who is serving a six-game ban after shoving a referee in the playoff last season, but added striker Jairo Arrieta in the offseason to offset.

Starting goalkeeper Bill Hamid returned to action this week versus Alajuelense following injury that kept him out of the first leg.

The Impact will then plays its next game at home against Alajuelense in Champions League play on Wednesday, March 18 at Olympic Stadium at 8pm.

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