SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – The Montreal Impact traveled to El Salvador to take on C.D. FAS in CONCACAF Champions League play this Wednesday at 10pm EDT (Sportsnet, TVA Sports) at Estadio Cuscatlán.
The team is currently on a bit of a high note, having won its most recent matchup in MLS 1-0 over the Chicago Fire last weekend, but is very well aware that it will be in hostile territory.
“I think that we can build on the confidence taken from our last performances to get a positive result in El Salvador,” said defender Wandrille Lefèvre. “We want three points. That’s the only objective we have on our minds.”
“Last year we went down to Guatemala and didn’t get the result we needed,” said team captain Patrice Bernier. “We have to win in El Salvador and then face New York the last two games with the advantage of having grabbed points early. Last time around, we won one, lost one and essentially put the cards in the other teams’ hands. We need to grab a result.”
Travel will probably be a factor once again. The team flew to Miami on Sunday before hopping a plane to El Salvador on Tuesday to minimize travel fatigue.
Another obstacle for IMFC is that the team will be without the services of defender Hassoun Camara (red card) and head Frank Klopas (leaving coach’s box), both receiving one-game suspensions.
With the bleu-blanc-noir kicking off the tournament at home with a 1-0 victory on August 5 versus their Central American opponents, IMFC now have some momentum building up this second game of the group stage. It also knows a little bit more about its opponent, which will be useful in what will be a tough road game.
Part of that preparation will be balancing the roster, as the Impact will travel to New Jersey on Thursday to face the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night at 7pm (RDS, TSN2, TSN 690).
GAME NOTES
- C.D. FAS normally plays its home games at Estadio Óscar Alberto Quiteño, a 15,000-seat stadium located in Santa Ana, but the stadium does not meet CONCACAF standards. Therefore, the game will be held at Estadio Cuscatlán, a 53,400 seat national stadium in San Salvador, 70 km away from the club’s base.
- In its more recent games in league play,C.D. FAS tied Alianza 0-0 last Saturday. The week before, also at home, C.D. FAS won 2-1 against Pasaquina. Defenders Xavier Garcia and Alexander Mendoza scored in that game.
- Following its win against C.D. FAS at Stade Saputo, the Impact remained undefeated at home in Champions League play with a record of six wins and two ties, including seven shutouts.
- Goalkeeper Evan Bush has a record of three wins, two losses and three shutouts in five CONCACAF Champions League starts.
- In last year CONCACAF Champions League tournament, the Impact lost 1-0 against C.D. Heredia, in Guatemala, on August 21.
