Impact Faces Carolina RailHawks Sunday

Published on May 29, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Montreal Impact News Release


MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact is playing its 7th regular season match Sunday versus the Carolina RailHawks, at Saputo Stadium (2 pm, Radio-Canada, radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990).

The Impact is ending a nine-game sequence in May. The team has not lost in its last five regular season matches (3-0-2) and stands second in its division, one point behind the Vancouver Whitecaps.

"We will face a very organized team, which in terms of ball possession, is perhaps second to best in the league after the Impact," declared Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "We will therefore need to be at our best. After playing two games without real stakes (Fiorentina and Vancouver), we now have three points to clinch on Sunday."

"We are going through a positive sequence, which is just the continuation of last year," declared team captain Nevio Pizzolitto. "This season, we once again show that we are a real team. We felt it during training camp, so I'm not surprised about our season start."

This is the first of four matchups this season between the two NASL division rivals. The Impact tied the RailHawks 1-1 on March 27 in Cary in a preseason match.

In 10 lifetime matches against the RailHawks, which joined the league in 2007, Montreal has a 6-2-2 record (16GF - 7GA). In 2009, both clubs drew1-1, on August 30 at Saputo Stadium, then Montreal earned a 1-0 win less than 72 hours later in Montreal, and was finally shut out 2-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park, on September 18.

The RailHawks are playing the second of a four-game sequence on the road. In the club's last match on May 26, a goal from midfielder Daniel Paladini in second half stoppage time allowed the RailHawks to win 2-1 in Puerto Rico. Carolina is undefeated this season in three games played on the road.

"The RailHawks have a good defense, they can count on good strikers and a good coach, so it's never easy against them," added Pizzolitto. "After winning in Puerto Rico, they will attempt to do the same thing in Montreal. Our mindset nevertheless remains not to concede any wins at home."

For the first time this season, Sunday's match will be played in front of a sellout crowd.

Montreal will then face prestigious Italian club AC Milan, on June 2, at Olympic Stadium. AC Milan lost 3-2 Wednesday night versus DC United (MLS) and will face the Chicago Fire (MLS) Sunday at 7:30 pm. AC Milan will arrive in Montreal on Monday.

Tickets for the match against AC Milan can be purchased through Admission (514-790-1245 / 1-800-361-4595 / admission.com) and at the Saputo Stadium and Olympic Stadium ticketing offices.

OTHER FACTS

- There is currently no injured player within the Impact roster.

- Team captain Nevio Pizzolitto is only 13 minutes shy from the 20,000 minutes played mark in regular season with the Impact. He will become the 2nd player from the club to reach this record after Mauro Biello (25,288 minutes).

- Defender Adam Braz is only five minutes away from the 10,000 minutes played mark. He will become the 10th player from the club to accomplish this feat.

- Defender Hicham Aaboubou started the last five matches, which marks a personal career summit.

THE NEXT 3 MATCHES

- Wednesday, June 2 - AC Milan @ IMPACT - Olympic Stadium - 8 pm (radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990; on a tape delayed basis on Radio-Canada) *

- Sunday, June 6 - Miami @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium - 2 pm (Radio-Canada, radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990)

- Wednesday, June 9 - IMPACT @ Minnesota - National Sports Center - 8 pm (nscminnesota.org)

* International match

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from May 29, 2010


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