Impact Faces The Vancouver Whitecaps Wednesday
September 8, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Montreal Impact News Release
MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact (11-10-6) plays its 28th season match Wednesday against the Vancouver Whitecaps (9-9-9) at Saputo Stadium, at 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com).
With a win against Vancouver, the Impact would be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. However, if Miami loses or ties tonight against Rochester, the Impact would automatically qualify.
"There is great rivalry between both teams and every match is intense," noted team captain Mauro Biello. "We want to keep our momentum and our confidence by finishing the season strong. We also want to send a message to other teams that it's not easy to play against the Impact during the playoffs."
"It's by pulling through tough moments that you become successful. The trials we went through this season made us grow," noted Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "We are battling now to be as high as possible in the standings, so it's important to keep on winning."
With three regular season matches to play, the Impact is ranked fifth in the USL First Division, with 39 points, one point ahead of Rochester and three more than Vancouver.
In its last match Saturday in Cleveland, Roberto Brown's scored two goals to lead the Impact to a 2-1 win in Cleveland. That same evening, Miami FC won 3-1 at home against Austin, thereby remaining in the race for the playoffs.
The Impact is registering its best sequence in the season, not having lost in its last five matches (4-0-1). In this recent streak, the team has earned 13 points on a possibility of 15.
The Impact is currently ranked third in the league with only eight goals conceded at home since season start, behind Portland and Carolina.
"We have to continue to work well as a unit, especially when we don't have ball possession, so everybody has to work together," analyzed Dos Santos. "In Montreal, the team has always done well defensively and we want this to continue. It's difficult to score against us at home and it's become a club trademark."
This is the third and last match between both teams this season. In the last two games against the Whitecaps, the Impact registered 2-1 wins twice, June 7 in Vancouver and June 20 in Montreal. During the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, the Impact lost twice against the Caps: 2-0 and 1-0.
Goalkeeper Matt Jordan is suffering from back spasms. Srdjan Djekanovic will therefore be in front of the net tonight. Besides Jordan, the other 24 players on the roster are healthy and therefore available to play.
Midfielder Joey Gjertsen will start his 100th career match in the USL First Division. In 137 league matches (8,839 minutes), Gjertsen has earned 22 goals and 21 assists for 65 points.
"The game Wednesday is important for various reasons," mentioned Gjertsen. "There's no doubt that 100 starts is a special achievement, especially since I have played various games against Vancouver. Regardless of this fact, this will be an important game for the playoffs and we want to continue our positive sequence."
The Whitecaps have not lost in their last seven matches (2-0-5). In their last game Friday, the team played the Thunder to a 1-1 draw in Minnesota.
Whitecaps forward Charles Gbeke is currently the top league scorer with 11 goals, tied with Timbers Mandjou Keita. Gbeke scored five goals in his last six matches.
Midfielder Martin Nash (thigh) and forward Marlon James (groin), who are in Montreal, could miss the game due to injuries. Their status are evaluated on a day to day basis. Midfielders Vincente Arze (healthy scratch) and Ethan Gage (back from a tryout in Europe) did not fly with the team to Montreal.
OTHER FACTS
- Since the arrival of Vancouver (86ers, which became the Whitecaps) in the league, in 1993, the Impact has maintained a 22-9-5 record in regular season play.
- The Whitecaps offense is ranked third in the league with 38 goals scored in 27 matches.
- Forward Roberto Brown is ranked seventh in the league with seven goals scored. He leads the team with five game-winning goals up to now this season.
THE LAST 2 REGULAR SEASON MATCHES
- Sunday, September 13 - Minnesota @ IMPACT -Saputo Stadium - 3:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
- Friday, September 18 - IMPACT @ Carolina - WakeMed Soccer Park - 7 pm (USLlive.com)
USL First Division Stories from September 8, 2009
- Miami Falls to Rochester - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- RailHawks fall in Puerto Rico, out of second place - North Carolina FC
- Montreal Impact In The Playoffs - Montreal Impact
- Impact Faces The Vancouver Whitecaps Wednesday - Montreal Impact
- RailHawks close out road schedule Tuesday at Puerto Rico - North Carolina FC
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
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.
