Two games in two nights for the Impact
July 28, 2005 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Montreal Impact News Release
The Montreal Impact (10-0-5) plays the Silverbacks in Atlanta, Friday, in its 16th game of the season, at James Halford Stadium, at 8 pm.
Then on Saturday, the Impact will play its second game in less than 24 hours in Charleston, where it will face the Battery at 7:30 pm.
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THE IMPACT'S LAST GAME
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In its last game, the Impact disposed of the Toronto Lynx 2-1, on Sunday, July 24, at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex in front of 12,885 spectators. Midfielder Zi Roberto and forward Mauro Biello scored in the win. Biello's goal was his fifth in his last four games, and his third game-winning goal this season.
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ALI GERBA OFF TO SWEDEN, SANDRO GRANDE TO NORWAY
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The Montreal Impact will finish the season without the services of forward Ali Gerba and midfielder Sandro Grande. Both players have come to terms on contracts with Scandinavian first division clubs just prior to the transfer deadline of August 1. Gerba will join Sundsvall, in Sweden, while Grande will don the uniform of Viking Sravanger in Norway.
Gerba, who joined the Impact on May 19, acquired from the Lynx in exchange for Sita-Taty Matondo and Abraham Francois, scored six goals this season, four of which came in an Impact uniform. He played eight games as a member of the Impact, seven of those as a starter (652 minutes).
Grande scored two goals and assisted on another in eight games (616 minutes). He missed five games due to injury earlier this season, but returned to the line-up on June 22 and scored the game-winning goal in a 4-2 victory over the Charleston Battery. He scored his second goal of the season on June 30 in a 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers.
Both players were recently called to the Canadian national team for the Gold Cup tournament that was held in the United States from July 6-24.
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IMPACT NOTES
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The Impact is in first place in league standings with 35 points, two ahead of the Rochester Raging Rhinos and the Richmond Kickers. Montreal has four games in hand over both the Rhinos and the Kickers.
The Impact is still unbeaten in nine games on the road (6-0-3), also a new club record.
De Santis' squad is the best defensive team in the league, having allowed only seven goals since the start of the season.
Goalkeeper Greg Sutton, in his 5th season with the Impact, will soon reach the plateau of 10, 000 career minutes played with Montreal. He has played 9,969 minutes in an Impact uniform, continuing to improve on his club record.
Sutton is also only two victories away from equaling Paolo Ceccarelli's team record of 60 career wins.
Following a production of five goals in his last four games, as well as the departure of forward Ali Gerba, captain Mauro Biello is now the Impact's leading scorer (5-3-13). He has jumped into 9th position in league scoring.
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PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS FOR BIELLO
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Biello was named Player of the Week in the United Soccer Leagues First Division. He scored two game-winning goals against the Lynx over the weekend. Biello scored in a 1-0 win in Toronto last Friday, and also scored the winner on Sunday in a 2-1 victory in Montreal.
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PLAYER INJURIES
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Forward Eduardo Sebrango has missed Montreal's last five games. He suffered a fractured bone in his right foot, June 30, in a 1-0 win over the Timbers in Portland. He is scheduled to return in August.
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VACHON PUBLIC PRACTICES
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As part of the Vachon Public Practices, the Impact will be in La Prairie (August 3 at 7 pm) and in St-Filix-de-Valois, in the Lanaudihre region (August 23 at 7 pm). The entire team and coaching staff will be in attendance. The event will include autograph sessions with the players and prizes.
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NEXT GAME
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Montreal will return to the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex on Sunday, August 7 to face the Atlanta Silverbacks (CKAC, CJAD).
• Discuss this story on the USL First Division message board...
USL First Division Stories from July 28, 2005
- Tickets for Timbers-San Jose match on sale now - Portland Timbers
- Sounders on Fox Soccer Channel - Seattle Sounders
- Rhinos Sign DaSilva - Rochester Rhinos
- Mariners Travel to Minnesota Thursday Night - Virginia Beach Mariners
- Two games in two nights for the Impact - Montreal Impact
- Battery welcomes Impact - Charleston Battery
- Lynx Fall to Seattle - Toronto Lynx
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