Colorado Rapids - Montreal Impact
Saturday, May 24, 2014 – 9pm (EDT)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
TV: TVA Sports
Radio: TSN 690
Web: illico web, MLS Live
Mobile: illico mobile, App Impact (iOS, Android)
COMMERCE CITY, Colorado – With the Montreal Impact (1-5-4) building some momentum with two good performances in its last two games, additional challenges await as it travels to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to take on the Colorado Rapids (4-4-3) this Saturday at 9pm EDT - the altitude and a determined home side with lots of speed.
“The altitude is definitely an issue,” said Jeb Brovsky, native of the mile-high state. “We are getting in on Thursday to get acclimated and we’ll have to make sure we’re hydrated because we don’t want altitude sickness to kick in. They have a big field and they like to stretch things out and make visiting teams run a lot. We are a fit team, so that should help, but we’ll have to make sure that we aren’t running around aimlessly.”
While the altitude may be a factor, the Impact knows for a fact that the Rapids will be ready to defend its home turf.
“They have some injuries, but they will be looking to push us as they lost their last game at home to Chivas USA 3-1,” said Impact assistant coach Mauro Biello. “They have a lot of speed up the middle with forward Deshorn Brown and qualities in the midfield with Jose Mari and Dillon Powers. We have to be ready for them to press.”
- WATCH: Pregame comments
One of their injuries is to leading scorer Vicente Sanchez, whose sprained left knee will keep him out of action for at least another two weeks, after scoring five goals in five game played in 2014.
The Impact, on the other hand, has received some good news on the injury front as both defender Nelson Rivas and striker Marco Di Vaio made the trip to Colorado.
“Having Marco back will definitely help the team,” added Biello. “We have a good record with him in the lineup. Now with Jack [McInerney] scoring goals, Marco coming back and Justin Mapp’s consistency, we have a number of options offensively, including the addition of Issey [Nakajima-Farran].”
As healthy bodies return to the lineup and the team continues to play better - playing D.C. to a 1-1 draw last weekend, while topping FC Edmonton 4-2 at home last Wednesday to qualify for the Canadian Championship final - the Impact feels it’s moving in the right direction.
“Our team chemistry is going up,” added Brovsky. “I think the team is going in the right direction. It takes only two or three games to turn things around. We have a tough road game so it’s time to see what we’re made of.”
The bleu-blanc-noir may have a little extra added support in what will be a tough road game as Brovsky will have over 100 hundred friends and family at the game.
Game Notes
- Head-to-head: The Impact has lost both its previous matchups against the Rapids. On June 29, the Rapids beat the Impact 4-3 at Stade Saputo last season, while Colorado took the first ever meeting 3-2 at home on May 26.
- Jack McInerney has scored four goals in his last four games, including three in the team’s two Amway Canadian Championship games. He has scored five goals since joining the team in seven games across all competitions.
- Canadian midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran will be available to play Saturday and could make his debut with the Impact, after being acquired last week from Toronto FC.
- U23 Impact player Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé is currently with the Senior Canadian men’s national team for two friendlies in Austria.
Upcoming games
The Impact takes the pitch at BMO Field on Wednesday, May 28 at 7:30pm, against Toronto FC in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final. Then, the bleu-blanc-noir returns to Stade Saputo to host the New England Revolution on May 31, at 7pm.
