The Impact Faces The Timbers in Portland Thursday

June 3, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Montreal Impact News Release


PORTLAND - The Montreal Impact (2-3-2) plays the first of a two-game road trip on the west coast this Thursday, against the Portland Timbers (4-1-3), at PGE Park (10 pm, USLlive.com).

The Impact is undefeated and has not conceded a goal in its three last games in the USL First Division. Montreal signed its first win of the season on the road, Saturday in Rochester, winning by shutout 1-0 following a goal from Roberto Brown at the 80th minute.

With a win, the Impact would be playing for .500 for the first time since April 23.

The Impact has the best offensive average in the league, tied with Austin, with an average of 1.29 goals scored per game.

"We collected three points in Rochester, but we hope to clinch nine points during this stretch on the road," said Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "To succeed, we will have to play in Portland and Vancouver with the same attitude that enabled us to win in Rochester. All eleven players on the field will need to be ready to fight from beginning to end. We still have many players on the injured list, but this situation cannot become an excuse. I am confident about every player."

"We wish to continue this streak without a loss in the USL and consequently get up in the standings," said Impact defender Nevio Pizzolitto, who travelled with the team, after missing the Rochester game due to a thigh injury. "We want to leave behind us the bad sequence we underwent at the start of the season. We expect two difficult games in the West against good teams that will be joining the MLS. If each player does his job and if the effort is there, then we should succeed."

Since the arrival of the Timbers in 2001, the Impact has maintained a lifetime record of 3-5-2 (6GF - 9GA) against its west coast American rivals.

The Timbers have not lost in their last seven games (4-0-3) and are undefeated in four home games. Portland lost once since the beginning of the season, in its first game, April 25, in Vancouver.

"We are conscious that it will be a tough game and the environment in Portland will be hostile, just as it was in Rochester, but we reacted well," added Dos Santos. "We don't want these external elements to get in the locker room. We will concentrate on what needs to be done in order to obtain a positive result."

Defender Zanzan is currently with Togo's National Team for a World Cup qualifying game against Gabon, June 6. Zanzan will be back in Montreal on June 10.

Adam Braz (thigh), Cédric Joqueviel (thigh), Stefano Pesoli (knee) and Patrick Leduc (foot) are alos out of the line-up due to injuries.

The Impact will then face the Vancouver Whitecaps Sunday at Swangard Stadium, in Burnaby (10 pm, USLlive.com).

OTHER FACTS

- Central defender Elkana Mayard, called up from the Trois-Rivières Attak, May 29, travelled again with the Impact.

- Impact defender Nevio Pizzolitto is only one minute away from second rank of the minutes played record in club history, currently held by Nick De Santis with 18,303 minutes of play.

- Portland lost once since the beginning of the season, in its first game, April 25, in Vancouver.

- Midfielder Ryan Pore is the top scorer for the Timbers with three goals this season, while Brian Farber and Mandjou Keita have each scored twice.

- Last season, the Impact lost 1-0 against the Timbers, May 30, at Saputo Stadium, had then been defeated 2-1, August 16, in Portland, before winning 2-0 at home, September 8.

- This is the first of three games this season between both teams. The clubs will meet again June 28 in Portland and August 12 in Montreal.

NEXT GAMES

- Sunday, June 7 - IMPACT @ Vancouver - Swangard Stadium - 10 pm (USLlive.com)

- Thursday, June 18 - Toronto @ IMPACT - 8 pm (Sportsnet, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990)*

- Tuesday, June 23 - Miami @ IMPACT - 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com) *Nutrilite Canadian Championship



USL First Division Stories from June 3, 2009


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