Impact Faces Carolina Railhawks Sunday At Saputo Stadium
August 28, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Montreal Impact News Release
MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact (9-10-5) plays the first of two home matches against the Carolina RailHawks (14-5-6) Sunday at Saputo Stadium, at 3:30 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com).
The Impact has won its last two matches: 2-1 in Cleveland, August 18 and 2-0 against Austin, August 23. With a third consecutive win, the Impact would be playing at the .500 mark for the first time since July 5.
"Everything is going well for us now and the confidence is there," declared Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "The players are more conscious that they need to play to their maximum during the 90 minutes and especially that they have to end their matches on a strong note."
It will be the first of three matches between both teams this season. In seven matches played against the RailHawks, which joined the league in 2007, the Impact has a 5-1-1 record (14GF - 4GA).
However, the North Carolina squad has not lost in its last eight matches (5-0-3). In their last game, the RailHawks crushed the Miami FC 9-0, Wednesday, at WakeMed Soccer Park.
"After its win against Miami, I don't think that Carolina will come here overconfident," added Dos Santos. "They will be focused and will probably have forgotten their last match. This is a team that goes on the road with a strong attitude and which has a very organized system of play. Due to their speed, they can be very dangerous, especially in counterattack."
Since the season start, no less than 110 matches have been missed by Impact players, due to injuries. Sunday, only Simon Gatti should miss the match due to a thigh injury.
"It feels good to see that almost everybody is healthy," said Dos Santos. "It was tough this season to have to change our lineup at every game. A number of less experienced players had to play key roles. We hope of course to avoid injuries from now to the playoffs."
Midfielder David Testo, who missed a few training sessions this week due to a light ankle injury against Austin, should be in the lineup against the RailHawks. He will become the first player on the team to reach the 2,000 minutes played mark this season. He has up to now registered 1,987 minutes in 23 matches.
"It will be a very tough game because we are going to face a team at its best," said Testo. "Since the end of last season, they have grown as a club with a new coach and they have a solid group. Everything is falling into place for them and it shows in their results. On Sunday, both teams on the field will have to play with intensity in order to get the three points."
The Montreal team is sixth in the USL First Division standings, with 32 points, one point over Vancouver and two behind Rochester. Vancouver and Rochester will match up tomorrow at Swangard Stadium, at 10 pm (Eastern time).
"Two wins against the RailHawks would almost guarantee us a spot in the playoffs," noted Impact team captain Mauro Biello. "It would build our confidence for the last season matches. As they did against Miami, we want to send a message to the other clubs in the league that we are better than a 6th place team."
Both teams will match up again at Saputo Stadium Wednesday at 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com).
Tickets for both games against Carolina are still available through Admission (514-790-1245 / admission.com) or at the Saputo Stadium ticketing office.
OTHER FACTS
- In 2008, the Impact won its three games against Carolina by shutout: 3-0, June 22 at Saputo Stadium and 2-0 twice in Cary, August 8 and August 30.
- Midfielder Patrick Leduc, who has recovered from his foot injury, is getting back his rhythm. He should not play Sunday.
- Defender Nevio Pizzolitto, who did not play against Austin, should play his 250th in career with the Impact. Only Mauro Biello has played more matches with Montreal (338).
- The RailHawks are ranked second in the league both offensively (38 goals scored) and defensively (14 goals allowed).
- No less than six RailHawks players have scored four goals or more up to now this season: Sallieu Bundu, Joseph Kabwe, Gregory Richardson, Andriy Budnyy, Luke Kreamalmeyer and Daniel Paladini.
THE LAST FIVE REGULAR SEASON MATCHES
- Wednesday, September 2 - Carolina @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium - 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
- Saturday, September 5 - IMPACT @ Cleveland - Middlefield Cheese Stadium - 2 pm (USLlive.com)
- Wednesday, September 9 - Vancouver @ IMPACT -Saputo Stadium - 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
- Sunday, September 13 - Minnesota @ IMPACT -Saputo Stadium - 3:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
- Friday, September 18 - IMPACT @ Carolina - 7 pm (USLlive.com)
USL First Division Stories from August 28, 2009
- Playoff-bound Timbers, Battery battle to scoreless draw - Portland Timbers
- Miami FC Defender Called up For U-20 World Cup - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Timbers Sign Defender Ivan Becerra - Portland Timbers
- Impact Faces Carolina Railhawks Sunday At Saputo Stadium - Montreal Impact
- Battery adds McClellan and Franks - Charleston Battery
- Miami FC Visits Last Place Aztex - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Match Preview: Aztex vs. Miami FC, August 29th - Austin Aztex
- Two big fixtures in Montreal loom for RailHawks - North Carolina FC
- Whitecaps Sign Aaron Wheeler - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Austin Chamber of Commerce honors Austin Aztex with Community Relations Award - Austin Aztex
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