Impact Faces RailHawks in Carolina Saturday
June 25, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Montreal Impact News Release
CARY - The Montreal Impact (4-3-4) faces the Carolina RailHawks (3-2-5), Saturday, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina at 7pm (carolinarailhawks.com).
Second place in the NASL Division will be on the line. Montreal currently occupies that spot, just two points ahead of Carolina.
This will be the second game between these two clubs this season. In their first meeting on May 30, the Impact was blanked 2-0 at Saputo Stadium.
"In our last game against Carolina, a number of our players had a tough day on the pitch," noted head coach Marc Dos Santos. "After losing to them on our field, we want to turn the tables and win on their field. To do so, we'll have to play a near-perfect game. We worked hard in training to recreate situations we expect to see in tomorrow's game."
In its last game, the Impact tied the Rochester Rhinos 1-1, last Sunday at Saputo Stadium.
"We've been wanting to score more goals and we feel like we're headed in the right direction offensively," stated forward Eduardo Sebrango, who scored his first goal of the season versus the Rhinos. "It feels good to score, knowing that you're helping the team out. We're playing better offensively as a team, with everyone jumping in on the attack. That's helped to create a lot more scoring chances. Tomorrow's game won't be easy though, because Carolina's a very well-organized team."
Since the RailHawks arrived in the league in 2007, the Impact has a winning record of six wins, three losses and two draws (16GF - 9GA). The Impact has won three of its five games played in North Carolina.
Carolina's last three games have resulted in 1-1 draws. Those ties came in Portland on June 6, in Vancouver on June 9 and at home versus Baltimore on June 19. Head coach Martin Rennie's squad has not lost in its last five regular season matches.
But the RailHawks have been eliminated from the US Open Cup, after falling 2-1 to the Charleston Battery (USL-2) this past Tuesday. Impact midfielder Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, on loan with the Battery until mid-August, scored a goal in that match.
Goalkeeper Matt Jordan (groin) and defender Stefano Pesoli (toe) did not travel with the club to Carolina as they continue to nurse their respective injuries. Defender Hicham Aaboubou will not be available for tomorrow's game as well. He is currently in Morocco for personal reasons.
Impact goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic, who has played the last four matches in Jordan's absence, is ranked second in the league with a goals-against average of 0,666. RailHawks goalkeeper Eric Reed sits in third place with an average of 0,750.
Montreal and Carolina face off on four occasions this season. They meet again on July 14 at Saputo Stadium and on August 7, once again in North Carolina.
Montreal's next match at home is on Wednesday, June 30 at Saputo Stadium, versus the Vancouver Whitecaps. Tickets for that game are still available through Admission (514-790-1245 / 1-800-361-4595 / admission.com), as well as at the Saputo Stadium ticketing office.
OTHER FACTS
- The Impact and RailHawks played a preseason game to a 1-1 draw, on March 27 in Cary.
- The Impact's next goal will be the 600th regular season goal in club history.
- Midfielder Felipe Soares and defender Adam Braz have each collected four yellow cards this season. Their next yellow card will earn them a one-game suspension.
- Forward Ãtienne Barbara is Carolina's top goal-scorer this season with five goals in 10 games, which puts him in fourth place in league scoring.
- The Impact Academy (2-3-4) faces the York Shooters (5-2-1) Saturday at 1 pm at Saputo Stadium. The Academy is currently 7th in the Canadian Soccer League, while the Shooters are sitting on top of the standings.
NEXT THREE MATCHES
- Wednesday, June 30 - Vancouver @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium - 7:30pm (radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990)
- Saturday, July 3 - IMPACT @ Rochester - Paetec Park - 7pm (rhinossoccer.com)
- Saturday, July 10 - IMPACT @ St. Louis - Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park - 8:10pm (ac-stlouis.com)
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from June 25, 2010
- Rivalry Between Austin Aztex and Miami FC Blues Heats up with New Trophy on the Line - Austin Aztex
- Rivalry Between Austin Aztex and Miami FC Blues Heats up with New Trophy on the Line - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- RailHawks Renew Rivalry with Montreal Impact Saturday Night - North Carolina FC
- Impact Faces RailHawks in Carolina Saturday - Montreal Impact
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