Impact Faces Carolina RailHawks Saturday
Published on April 15, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Montreal Impact News Release
CARY, North Carolina ¬" The Montreal Impact plays its second game of the season, Saturday at 7pm, against the Carolina RailHawks, at WakeMed Soccer Park, in Cary, North Carolina (Internet streaming: carolinarailhawks.com).
This will be the second road game of the season for the Impact, prior to playing its home opener on April 23 at Saputo Stadium against FC Tampa Bay, at 2:30 pm (Radio-Canada, radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990).
In 2010, the Impact was eliminated from the playoffs by the RailHawks in the semi-finals. After a 1-0 home victory at Saputo Stadium, the Impact lost 2-1 on October 17, on the road, versus the RailHawks.
¬ÅWe can ¬â¢t use last year ¬â¢s elimination game as motivation because we have a lot of new players this season that didn ¬â¢t play in that game, ¬Â said Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. ¬ÅWe have to keep doing the good things we started in Tampa Bay and correct the things that didn ¬â¢t work so well. ¬Â
In the team ¬â¢s inaugural game of 2011, the Impact lost 1-0 by FC Tampa Bay, last Saturday, in Florida, after allowing the winning goal in the 87th minute.
¬ÅWe had a lot of scoring chances throughout the match, which is positive, ¬Â said forward Ali Gerba, who finished the game with three shots on goal. ¬ÅWe have to do everything that we need to do to continue to create scoring chances and get the three points. ¬Â
In 14 games played historically against the RailHawks, which joined the league in 2007, the Impact has a 7-4-3 record (19GF ¬" 13GA).
¬ÅIt will be a tough match because these are two of the top clubs in the league, ¬Â said Impact midfielder Amir Lowery, who wore the Carolina colours in 2009 and 2010. ¬ÅWhen you play against a good team, you want to perform well and a rivalry is thus installed. We can ¬â¢t forget that the RailHawks also lost its first game and don ¬â¢t want to lose a second straight at home. ¬Â
This will also be the second game of the season for head coach Martin Rennie ¬â¢s side. The RailHawks lost its home opener 1-0 against the Porto Rico Islanders at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Midfielder David Testo, who underwent surgery for his ankle on January 27, will be available for the game, as well as newcomers Kevin Hatchi and Idriss Ech Chergui.
Defender Karl Ouimette and forward Mircea Ilcu, from the U21 Academy, have made the trip to Carolina.
Midfielders Leonardo Di Lorenzo (thigh) and Hassoun Camara (thigh), as well as forward Reda Agourram (thigh) did not travel with the team to Cary due to injuries.
Defenders Hicham Aaboubou and Richard Pelletier will serve a second game of suspension.
¬ÅWe have the players to make a good run again this year, ¬Â said captain Nevio Pizzolitto. ¬ÅIt ¬â¢s too bad that we are missing some key players to injury or suspension, but we have some new guys that can do the job. We are working to grow as a group each game. ¬Â
Season tickets are still available for the 2011 season via the Impact ¬â¢s website (impactmontreal.com) and the club ¬â¢s sales offices at 514-328-3668. All season ticket holders for 2010 will automatically be given seating priority for the 2012 season in Major League Soccer (MLS) by reserving their seats with a $50 reimbursable deposit.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
¬Â¢ This will be the first of four games between these two clubs this season. The Impact will face the RailHawks at Saputo Stadium on May 14, on July 3 in Cary, and then on September 11, again in Montreal.
¬Â¢ In last year ¬â¢s regular season, the Impact earned four of a possible 12 points (1-2-1) against the RailHawks.
¬Â¢ Eight members of last year ¬â¢s Carolina line-up are back in 2011, including the team ¬â¢s leading scorer, Etienne Barbara, who finished the season with eight goals and two assists for 18 points.
¬Â¢ Four players from the Impact reserve team, goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, defenders Ismail Benomar and Marco Lapenna, as well as midfielder Shadrack Mmunga were selected by the Canadian national U17 team for two friendly games against Mexico, on April 20 and 24, in preparation for the upcoming U17 World Cup.
NEXT THREE GAMES
¬Â¢ Saturday April 23- Tampa Bay @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium ¬" 2:30pm (home opener)
¬Â¢ Wednesday, April 27 - Vancouver @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium ¬" 8pm (Nutrilite Canadian Championship)
¬Â¢ Sunday May 1 - IMPACT @ Edmonton - Foote Stadium ¬" 9:35pm
North American Soccer League Stories from April 15, 2011
- Late penalty kick cost Stars win in 1-1 tie with Fort Lauderdale Strikers - Minnesota United FC
- Late Comeback Propels Strikers to Tie - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Late penalty costs Stars win in 1-1 tie with Strikers - Minnesota United FC
- FC Edmonton vs. Atlanta Silverbacks Game Preview - FC Edmonton
- Impact Faces Carolina RailHawks Saturday - Montreal Impact
- Norkus Returns to RailHawks - North Carolina FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
