The Montreal Impact will be looking for three points on the road as it heads to Chicago to take on the Fire at Toyota Park this Saturday, at 8:30pm EDT (TVA Sports 2, TSN Radio 690, 98,5FM).
The Impact is on a two-game winning streak, topping a couple of the Western Conference’s better teams in FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake.
“We’ve played two games at home where we saw some really good things from this team,” said defender Laurent Ciman. “There are always things you can work on, but we continue to work on that and improve every game. Step by step, we are progressing as a group. Now, we should be able to repeat these performances on the road. We have a lot of experienced players and we must win some games on the road to climb in the standings.”
“Having won our last two MLS games, we will go there with a lot of confidence,” added Dilly Duka, a former Chicago Fire player. “Whatever they bring, if we are focused and sharp, we’ll be able to handle. There is quite a bit of chemistry developing for us in attack.”
That chemistry after seven games has helped the Impact out shoot its opponents 94 to 88, including 39-34 on the road.
Defender Bakary Soumare will also be returning to his former stomping grounds, a first time for him since being acquired by the Impact in the offseason.
Goalkeeper Evan Bush is seventh in save percentage in MLS at 75.8%, and is 82.6% in his last three games (19 saves, 23 SOG), while going undefeated in two games against the Fire over his career (1-0-1).
Striker Jack McInerney has four goals and one assist in seven games played against Chicago, including two game winning goals.
Defender Donny Toia now has a full week of training under his belt, returning from injury last weekend after being pushed into emergency service when Eric Miller was knocked out of the Dallas game.
Hot and cold
The Fire is currently on a two-game undefeated streak, with two consecutive 2-2 draws, surmounting a 2-0 deficit last weekend versus the Crew in Columbus in its most recent matchup. However, the team has not found a win in its last four games.
The 2013 MLS MVP Mike Magee has just recently returned to training following eight months of rehab due to knee and hip injuries, and will not be available after being loaned to its USL affiliate on Friday. Winger Patrick Nyarko has also just recently returned to the training pitch.
Chicago’s big signings in the offseason are still looking for consistency as both Designated Players, Scottish international midfielder Shaun Maloney and Nigerian striker Kennedy Igboananike, have combined for just one goal, while centre back Jeff Larentowicz leads the team with three goals.
However, Ghanaian midfielder David Accam has shown some flashes of brilliance and blazing speed over his six games played (2G) and will be a key component to Chicago’s success if he can find his finishing touch.
The Impact will play its next game on Wednesday at 8pm EDT against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Stade Saputo (tickets: ticketmaster.ca).
