Montreal Impact – Toronto FC
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - 7:30pm (ET)
Stade Saputo
Broadcast: TSN, RDS, CJAD 800
Also available on: illico web
MONTREAL, Quebec – Italian forward Marco Di Vaio, the first ever Designated Player for the Montreal Impact (5-8-3), is set to make his debut Wednesday at 7:30pm (ET) versus Toronto FC (1-10-2) in the club’s third game at Stade Saputo.
Good tickets are still available for the game via impactmontreal.com, or by calling 514-328-3668.
Di Vaio is one of the greatest goal scorers in the history of first division soccer in Italy, with 142 goals in 342 games played in Serie A. On the international stage, Di Vaio scored two goals in 14 games played with the Italian National Team.
“It will be emotional for me,” said Di Vaio. “This will be my first game in a new league. I’ve lived many changes lately but the minute I get on the field, it will all pass.”
Preview: MTL-TOR
News and Quotes
This match is the fourth in a series of five in 15 days in the month of June for the club. The Impact and Toronto FC will face each other for the second time in MLS regular-season, winning 2-1 on April 7 at Olympic Stadium.
In action last weekend, the Impact were victorious over the Houston Dynamo by a score of 4-2, now unbeaten in two games at Stade Saputo, scoring a total of eight goals in both contests, and extending its home winning record to 4-1-2 in the process.
Midfielder Felipe has recorded at least one point in his last four games, while midfielder Patrice Bernier registered a multipoint game in three of his last four games. He is now tied for third in MLS with five assists.
“This is another important game for us,” said Camara, who scored his first goal in MLS last Saturday. “We looked at the good things we did in the last few home games and examined the things that needed some work in order to help us get the three points on Wednesday. Toronto is a conference rival, so these games are even more important for us to move up in the standings.”
Toronto is coming off two consecutive games that ended in a draw, where on both occasions; the Reds lost the lead late in the game. The last of those two matchups occurred on Saturday, when New England rallied to tie the game 2-2, at BMO Field in Toronto.
In early June, Aron Winter was replaced by the club’s director of player development, Paul Mariner, going 0-1-2 in three games under the Englishman’s management.
“To be fair, even under coach Winter, they came out every night to play,” said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. “They were not an easy team to play against. They may have a little bit of revitalized energy, but they also played their last two games and lost the lead late in those games, so that desperate edge they had before to win is still there. The rivalry, the proximity of the cities and the history will all play into the game as well. This will be a real good game for sure.”
TFC Dutch forward and Designated Player Danny Koevermans has renewed life since Mariner took over, scoring three goals in his last two games, for a total of six goals. English defender Rickard Eckersley has also found his way into the starting 11 again for TFC, after being relegated to substitute under Winter. German international, and DP Torsten Frings is also healthy again as he was a fixture in TFC’s last four matches.
Defender Nelson Rivas has been added to the injury list and will be out of action for a few days due to a knee injury, while midfielder Justin Mapp will not be available for the game due to family reasons.
Upcoming games
The Impact will hit the road to play D.C. United at RFK Stadium, in Washington, on Saturday, June 30, at 7:30pm (ET). The Impact will then play its next home game at Stade Saputo, against Sporting Kansas City, on July 4, at 7:30pm (ET). New mini-season packages are available via impactmontreal.com, or by calling 514-328-3668.
Game Notes
- The Montreal Impact is currently first among MLS teams with 222 fouls committed, third with 221 shots and fifth with 24 goals.
- Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is currently fourth amongst MLS goalkeepers with 75 shots against and seventh with 47 saves.
- Midfielder Davy Arnaud is second in the league with 41 fouls suffered.
- Midfielder Felipe is tied for second in MLS with 34 fouls committed, and is the only player to play every single minute for the impact this season (1440 minutes).
- Midfielder Sanna Nyassi is tied for eighth in MLS with 19 shots on goal.
- Impact goalkeeper and Hamilton native Greg Sutton played 34 games in three seasons with Toronto FC, from 2007 to 2009.
- Impact team manager and former defender Adam Braz was also one of the first players to join expansion-side Toronto FC in Major League Soccer in 2007, appearing in 13 games.
- Toronto FC defender Adrian Cann played 22 games with the Impact, in North American second division, in 2004 and 2005, winning the 2004 A-League Championship with the club. However, the defender is currently out of action with an injury.
- INJURY REPORT: OUT - D Matteo Ferrari (Right quad strain), D Nelson Rivas (Left knee sprain) F Bernardo Corradi (Left knee torn ACL), Andrew Wenger (Left hamstring strain), Evan James (Left ankle sprain)
