Sporting Kansas City – Montreal Impact
Saturday, March 30, 8:30pm (ET)
Sporting Park
TV: TVA Sports
Web: illico web, illico mobile, MLS Live
Viewing party: Coin du Métro (10719 rue Lajeunesse, Montreal)
KANSAS CITY – The Montreal Impact look to remain undefeated this season as it travels to take on Sporting Kansas City this Saturday, at 8:30 pm (ET), at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas. The game will be broadcast live on TVA Sports and also available on illico mobile, illico web and MLS Live, or you can get live updates using the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.
Pre-game comments
Preview: Mapp and Arnaud
“It’s not easy to win games on the road,” said Impact assistant coach Mauro Biello. “We did well in Seattle and Portland, but we need to be ready for another tough game against Kansas City. We have to remain compact in the midfield and be ready to take advantage of our counterattacks.”
“We need to make slight changes when on the road, but the core of what we are about remains the same,” said Impact captain Davy Arnaud. “It’s going to be tough. They are a very good team at home that like to press the game and they will come out with something to prove.”
DOWNLOAD: Game Notes (PDF)
“It felt good to get back out there,” said Justin Mapp, after returning to the pitch last weekend following a calf injury that kept him out of the previous two contests. “It was nice to get the win and we need to take that momentum into Kansas City against a team with some strong players like Graham Zusi in the midfield and a strong backline. We have to go out there and be ready to make it tough on them.”
Impact news
The Impact registered four straight wins after shutting out the New York Red Bulls 1-0 at Olympic Stadium last Saturday, on a goal by Marco Di Vaio (2G). Goalkeeper Troy Perkins earned his second shutout of the season and is leading the league in wins and shutouts.
The Impact looks for its third win on the road, which would better the team’s road record from all of last season, by returning to the place of its first ever win away from Montreal.
READ: Late-game solidity key to perfect run
The Impact’s first two road victories came in its first two matches of the season, a 1-0 win against the Sounders in Seattle on opening weekend and then 2-1 versus the Timbers in Portland. Felipe (1G, 1A), captain Davy Arnaud (1G, 1A) and defender Hassoun Camara (1G) scored away from home.
Injury Report: OUT: M - Sinisa Ubiparipovic (calf); D - Nelson Rivas (knee), Alessandro Nesta (adductor strain) – PROBABLE: D - MaximTissot (knee).
Head to head
The Impact’s first ever matchup against SKC was also its first ever win on the road, a 2-0 victory at Sporting Park on May 5, 2012. Midfielders Felipe and Patrice Bernier (1G, 3A) scored for the away team. Sporting returned the favour on July 4, topping the Impact 3-1 at Stade Saputo with Bernier the lone goal scorer for the home team. Then, on September 22, despite a dominating performance, the Impact plays to a scoreless draw at home, with Perkins earning the shutout.
During the Disney Pro Classic preseason tournament, the Impact bested SKC 1-0 in group action on a goal by Di Vaio before going on to win the tournament.
Sporting Kansas City news
The 2012 Eastern Conference regular season champs have managed just one win in its first four games, going 1-1-2. Following a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union in the season opener, SKC has managed just one goal in its last three matches, including two consecutive 0-0 stalemates, with last weekend’s coming against the Revolution in New England.
Kansas City has been without centre back Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi, called into camp for the US national team's World Cup qualifiers. Starting right back Chance Myers missed the last two games after aggravating a quad strain and it will be some time before forwards Jacob Peterson (shoulder) and Teal Bunbury (ACL) are cleared to play.
READ: Opponent watch - Slower start for KC in 2013
Although Zusi and Besler should be back and ready to go for the Impact’s visit, SKC lost Kei Kamara, who was loaned out to Norwich City of the EPL and midfielder Julio Cesar, who was moved to Toronto FC.
SKC did replace Kamara’s firepower up front by bringing in Argentinean striker Claudio Bieler as a DP, who already has two of SKC’s four goals scored this season. Former US international midfielder Benny Feilhaber was brought in from the Revs to fill Cesar’s spot and defender Ike Opara was acquired from the San Jose Earthquakes.
Former Impact defender/midfielder Josh Gardner was acquired by Kansas City in an offseason trade, but has yet to see the field.
Next Game
The Impact has a bye-week next weekend as the originally scheduled matchup versus the Galaxy in LA was moved to October 16 due to CONCACAF Champions League commitments for the 2012 MLS Cup champions.
The team will host the Columbus Crew at 2pm (ET) on Saturday, April 13 in its first game of the season at Stade Saputo. Single game tickets for all of the team’s home games are available via the Admission network (admission.com / 1-855-790-1245) or via the Stade Saputo ticket office (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm).
2013 season tickets are still available in seven categories, at a cost of $295, $385, $475, $580, $770 and $1070. You can assure your spot for the 2013 season by contacting the Impact’s sales and services team at 514-328-3668. Show your support for your club by paying for your tickets using your Montreal Impact BMO credit card.
