Impact Plays Second Pre-Season Match in Arizona
Published on February 25, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Montreal Impact News Release
CASA GRANDE, Arizona ¬" The Montreal Impact will play its second pre-season game against a Major League Soccer (MLS) opponent, Saturday at the Grande Sports World Complex, in Casa Grande, Arizona. The Impact faces Sporting Kansas City at 3pm (Eastern time).
Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos is pleased with the work put in so far in Arizona since the team ¬â¢s arrival last Monday.
¬ÅThe players ¬â¢ attitude has been excellent. Everyone is working hard and giving their maximum. The players have the afternoon off today as we want all of them fresh and ready to go for tomorrow ¬â¢s game against Kansas City. ¬Â
The Impact ¬â¢s first game, on Wednesday, ended in a 1-0 shutout loss to the Portland Timbers. Forward Eddie Johnson scored the lone goal in the 7th minute of play.
¬ÅFollowing the result against Portland, this second game will allow us the opportunity to readjust and set our preparation, ¬Â added Dos Santos. ¬ÅWe want to improve and correct the mistakes we made against Portland, but we also want to continue doing the things we did well in that game. ¬Â
Goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, who joined the team on February 19, was pleased to get into the club ¬â¢s first game in Arizona.
¬ÅI was quite happy to put on the Impact ¬â¢s jersey for the first time, ¬Â said Gaudette. ¬ÅWe have a good group, led by intense and detail-oriented coaches who push us mentally and physically. I am very pleased to be here and I know this will be an exciting year. Tomorrow ¬â¢s game will be another good test for us. ¬Â
The Impact will play its third and final pre-season game in Arizona against another MLS club on Wednesday, March 2, at 6 pm ET, against FC Dallas.
ACADEMY PLAYERS HELP CANADA QUALIFY
Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, defenders Ismaïl Benomar and Marco Lapenna, as well as midfielder Shadrack Mmunga, all members of the Impact U21 Academy, helped the U17 Canadian national team qualify for the U17 World Cup, that will take place in Mexico, from June 18 to July 10, 2011.
Canada earned its ticket to the World Cup tournament following a 2-0 victory against Trinidad & Tobago in the CONCACAF quarterfinals, Wednesday, in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
¬ÅThis first qualification in more than 15 years is truly extraordinary for our Academy players and the Canadian national team, ¬Â said Philippe Eullaffroy, Impact director of player development and head coach of the U21 Academy. ¬ÅOur players should be proud of what they have accomplished and this result is a reward for all their efforts. We will work with these players to maintain their form and make sure they are at the top of their games come June when the U17 World Cup begins. ¬Â
Maxime Crépeau recorded three shutouts in three games so far in the tournament. Benomar (163 minutes) and Lapenna (180 minutes) started both games they played in, while Mmunga (95 minutes) played in all three games, one as a starter.
The Academy players and Canada face Panama today in the semi-final round of the CONCACAF tournament. The final is set for Sunday at 7 pm.
North American Soccer League Stories from February 25, 2011
- Impact Plays Second Pre-Season Match in Arizona - Montreal Impact
- Strikers to Host Major League Soccer Side New York Red Bulls - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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