LA Galaxy – Montreal Impact
Wednesday, October 16, 2013 – 10:30pm (ET)
StubHub Center
TV: TVA Sports
Online: MLS Live, illico web
Mobile: illico mobile
Viewing party: Ciociaro - 8868 Langelier, Montreal
CARSON, California – The playoff race heats up as the Montreal Impact (13-11-7, 46pts) and the LA Galaxy (14-11-6, 48pts) will face of this Wednesday night at 10:30 pm (ET), at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. The game will be broadcast live on TVASports and is available online with illico mobile, illico web and MLS Live. You can also get live updates using the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.
With only three games to play this season, the Impact sits in a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings at 46 points with the Chicago Fire and the Philadelphia Union. The Impact is still only two points back of third place Houston Dynamo (48 pts).
“I think that after a little adversity, making the playoffs would be all the more sweet for us in the end.”
- Marco Schällibaum
This is the only regular-season game between the teams in 2013. The Impact and the Galaxy faced each other once in 2012. The teams tied 1-1 on May 12 in front of 60,860 spectators at Olympic Stadium, on goals from Davy Arnaud and David Beckham.
“People might think that we are dead, and they are afraid because we’ve managed just one point in our last five games, but we believe,” said Impact head coach Marco Schällibaum. “I think that after a little adversity, making the playoffs would be all the more sweet for us in the end.”
“LA is a great team, easily one of the top teams in the league moving the ball forward and we cannot take them lightly,” said midfielder Patrice Bernier. “We have to make sure that we don’t give one inch away. We have to be creative in our movement and find the right people who score goals with good passes. We are a good team collectively and the individual performances stand out when the entire team performs.”
“We need make sure we get our rhythm going early on in LA,” added defender Maxim Tissot. “If we can work together and not give up a goal on the road, we have something to build on.”
Head to Ciociaro's (8868 Langelier) for Wednesday's viewing party!
Team news
The Impact will try to end a five-game winless streak Wednesday. In its most recent matchup, Montreal fell to the New England Revolution 1-0 at Stade Saputo last Saturday.
The team has not scored in its last 183 minutes of play, going back to Maxim Tissot’s equalizer in the 87th minute in Chicago on September 28.
The Impact’s first ever Designated Player Marco Di Vaio, who announced Tuesday that he will be returning with the Impact in 2014, is only one goal away from becoming just the 11th player in MLS history to reach the 20-goal plateau. He’s scored eight goals in his last nine MLS games, including three two-goal performances.
Impact defender Matteo Ferrari and midfielder Davy Arnaud did not travel to LA due to suspensions, while Jeb Brovsky and Daniele Paponi will also miss Wednesday’s clash due to injuries.
Midfielder Sanna Nyassi and defender Hassoun Camara, who returns from serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation, will hit the 50-games played plateau with the Impact in MLS following their next appearance.
Galaxy news
The LA Galaxy – last season’s MLS Cup winners - is 2-2-1 in its last five league games, including a 5-0 drubbing of Chivas USA last Saturday at home on the strength of braces by forwards Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan.
LA is looking to lock down a postseason berth with a win over the Impact and either a draw against San Jose or a Vancouver Whitecaps FC victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
“ The individual performances stand out when the entire team performs.”
- Patrice Bernier
Keane, who is the team’s leading scorer in 2013 with 15 goals and 11 assists in just 20 games played, will join Panamanian national team keeper Jaime Penedo on international duty with Ireland this week and will miss Wednesday’s matchup against Montreal.
Donovan, who came home early from time with the US national team with an ankle injury, and defender Omar Gonzalez (left hip strain), are questionable for the midweek fixture, but both have expressed optimism about their availability. .
If Donovan were to play, and managed a goal, he would surpass Jeff Cunningham as the MLS all-time leading goal scorer.
Upcoming games
The Impact will play its last regular season game at home versus the Philadelphia Union this Saturday at Stade Saputo, at 2pm ET. The team will then play its last game of the season on Saturday, October 26 in Toronto.
