Montreal Impact – Colorado Rapids
Saturday, June 29, 2013 - 7pm (ET)
Stade Saputo
TV: TVA Sports
Radio: CJAD 800
Mobile: illico mobile, illico web, MLS Live
MONTREAL, Quebec – The Montreal Impact (9-3-2) looks to win its fifth consecutive home game in regular season play when it hosts the Colorado Rapids (5-7-5) this Saturday at 7pm (ET). The game will be broadcast live on TVA Sports, on radio with CJAD 800, and will be available on illico mobile, illico web and MLS Live. You can also get live updates using the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.
The Impact sits in first place in the Eastern Conference standings, having earned 29 points from 14 games played – four points ahead of the Philadelphia Union with two games in hand. The Montreal Impact is still undefeated at home this season with a record of 6-0-1 and leads the conference with 16 goals at home.
Supporters will get another chance to take a picture with the Voyageurs Cup, awarded to the Impact for winning the Amway Canadian Championship, at the Ticket information kiosk.
Less than 2,000 excellent tickets are still available for Saturday’s game:
Online: admission.com - until 12pm on Saturday
Admission Network: 1-855-790-1245 - 9am-8pm (but until 12pm Saturday)
Montreal Impact: 514-328-3668 - 9am-5pm (4:30pm on Saturday)
In person: Stade Saputo - starting at 9am
Head-to-head
This is the only regular season game between these teams in 2013. The Impact and Rapids faced each other once in 2012. The Impact lost 3-2 on May 26 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, in Colorado.
The Impact is also the only team undefeated against Western Conference clubs this season with three wins and one tie.
WATCH: Preview vs COL
Impact news
After 14 regular-season games, the Impact has 14 more points than at the same time last year, with a record of 9-3-2 for 29 points, compared to 4-7-3 for 15 points in 2012.
In its last matchup, the Impact shut out the Houston Dynamo by a 2-0 score on June 19 at Stade Saputo. Impact DP Marco Di Vaio scored his 10th goal of the season, tying him for first place in the league scoring race. He also improves on his home goal scoring streak, having scored in every single of his team’s games at Stade Saputo. Felipe managed the other marker for the home team.
Midfielder Patrice Bernier extended his team record, playing in his 30th consecutive game with the Impact in MLS and is first in MLS with four game-winning assists.
Team captain Davy Arnaud, who has scored five career goals against the Rapids, should be available on Saturday after missing nine games due to a concussion.
READ: Montreal Impact's depth on the flanks helps them weather injuries
The status of midfielders Sanna Nyassi (groin) and Justin Mapp (hamstring) is doubtful due to injuries.
Colorado Rapids News
The Colorado Rapids are coming off of a tough stretch in which the team lost its last three games, including a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Timbers in Portland last Saturday.
The team currently sits in 7th spot in the Western Conference, but is only two points out of a playoff spot behind the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja overhauled the team’s atttack in the offseason, bringing in US veteran striker Edson Buddle from the LA Galaxy, along with some established players in Atiba Harris from the Whitecaps and Danny Mwanga from the Portland Timbers. The team also brought in Chilean striker Kevin Harbottle.
However, starting the season with a number of injuries, rookies have stolen the show in Colorado. Forward Deshorn Brown has three goals and leads the team with four assists, while midfielder Dillon Powers has two goals and one assist in 16 games played. Both players were selected at this year’s SuperDraft (6th and 11th respectively).
Also, third string goalkeeper Clint Irwin, who played for the USL’s Charlotte Eagles last season, has taken the ball and run with it after starting keeper Matt Pickens went down early on with a broken arm. Irwin is 5-5-5 in 15 games and has five shutouts.
READ: Player watch - Clint Irwin
Playmaker Martin Rivero is expected to miss the game after injuring his thigh a few weeks ago, while former captain and 10-year Rapids veteran Pablo Mastroeni was moved to the LA Galaxy last week in a trade. Defender Drew Moor has been named the team’s new captain.
Upcoming games
The Impact hits the road to take on Toronto FC at BMO Field on Wednesday, July 3 at 7pm (ET). The game will be broadcast live on TSN and RDS. The team then heads back to Montreal to take on Chivas USA on multi-cultural day at Stade Saputo on July 7 at 7pm.
