“It’s not yet at the same level as with Rochester and Vancouver, but there’s no doubt that facing them twice in the playoffs has only increased the level of intensity between the two teams,” says head coach Nick De Santis. “The players know each other better and better, and they are more and more aggressive on the field because both teams are ready to do whatever it takes to win, more than before, I think.”
Although the Sounders have been a thorn in the Impact’s side through the years — the club has a lifetime record of 5-12-1 against Seattle, including 3-6-0 in Montreal — there was no talk of rivalry because the two squads would only rarely face each other. But since the Eastern and Western Conferences have given way to a single-division format, match-ups have been more frequent and results, more balanced.
Notably, the Impact won its second league championship in club history, in 2004, by beating the Sounders in the final; and last year, Seattle eliminated Montreal in the semifinals on their way to their third title after those collected in 1995 and 1996.
“They have three championships, they’ve been in the league almost as long as we have, they’re a team that has had success through the years, that expects to be in the playoffs every season. They always have a solid team, so when we meet, it’s always a battle between top teams, it’s always a good game,” says Impact captain Mauro Biello.
The “tone” of Montreal-Seattle meetings picked up a notch last July 15 in Seattle, in a game won 2-1 by the Impact. Seven yellow cards were then awarded, including four to the Sounders, while two players were ejected, one aside. And both teams reached the 20-foul mark, a rare occurrence.
“When top teams play each other, it’s that much more intense,” says defender Nevio Pizzolitto. “It’s always the case in games involving Rochester, Vancouver and Seattle, because whoever wins those battles sends a message to the rest of the league that they’ve just beat one of the best teams. So those wins do have some added value.”
Although the intensity on the field is sometimes high between Montreal and Seattle players, there is also a good deal of respect between members of both organizations.
“They have players we respect a lot, like Roger Levesque and Leighton O’Brien, quality players who have been with the team for a while, who care about the club and do the same thing in Seattle we try to do here in Montreal,” points out Pizzolitto.
“I get along well with Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer, as I do with all the coaches in the league in fact, ” says De Santis. “Coaches understand each other because they all have the same pressure to win. We get the latest news on what’s happening around the league, we help each other out, so it’s good.”
After facing the Sounders, the Montreal players will be back on the road for three games, this Friday in Atlanta against the Silverbacks (7 :30 pm), and the following weekend at Virginia Beach against the Mariners, Friday, August 4 (7 :30 pm) and Sunday, August 6 (4 pm). The next home game is slated for Wednesday, August 9... against their old rivals, the Rochester Raging Rhinos.
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