USL Fox Sports World Game of the Week
Published on September 9, 2004 under USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
Salty Dogs @ Impact
This Sunday's live USL on Fox Sports World A-League match takes place at Claude Robillard Stadium in Montreal, Canada as the Syracuse Salty Dogs take on the Montreal Impact in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Finals. Kickoff is set for 4:00 pm ET.
The first leg of the series will be Friday, September 10 at Syracuse's P&C Stadium at 7:30pm ET.
Syracuse Salty Dogs (15-8-5, 50 points)
The Syracuse Salty Dogs are the third seed out of the Eastern Conference. They advanced to the conference finals after tying the second-seeded Richmond Kickers 2-2 on aggregate score, then defeating the Kickers 5-4 in penalty kicks.
The Salty Dogs are in just their second year of existence and are looking to be the first team to make it to the A-League finals in their first two seasons since the Rochester Raging Rhinos accomplished that feat in their inaugural campaign (1996).
Montreal Impact (17-6-5, 56 points)
The Montreal Impact won the Eastern Conference regular season championship and advanced to the conference finals with a 2-0 aggregate score win over the Rhinos. It was the first time in five postseason confrontations that the Impact advanced past rival Rochester.
The Impact, who finished one point back of regular season champion Portland, set a league record for shutouts with 19 during the regular season. The team, who last made a trip to the finals when they won it all in 1994, gave up only 15 goals on the season, eight ahead of the next team (23).
History
Montreal and Syracuse met three times during the regular season, with the Salty Dogs earning a 0-0 tie followed two victories by identical 2-1 scores. Syracuse is one of only two teams (Richmond is the other) to have had a winning record against the Impact in 2004. The Impact were 3-0-1 against the Salty Dogs in 2003.
USL First Division Stories from September 9, 2004
- A-League Statistical Awards Announced - USL-1
- USL Fox Sports World Game of the Week - USL-1
- Gerba Earns All-League Honours - Toronto Lynx
- Watson and Evans named to All-League Second Team - Charleston Battery
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