Montreal Impact – Philadelphia Union
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 7pm (ET)
Stade Saputo
Tickets: Buy online
TV: TVA Sports
Radio: CJAD 800 AM
Web: illico web, MLS Live
Mobile: illico mobile
MONTREAL – Following a 10-day break, the Montreal Impact (6-2-2) hosts the Philadelphia Union (5-4-3) Saturday at Stade Saputo at 7pm (ET). The game will be broadcast live on TVA Sports and CJAD 800 AM, as well as 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 is still undefeated in seven home games in 2013 and is currently sitting in fourth spot in the Eastern Conference with 20 points, just four points out of first place with four games in hand on the conference leading New York Red Bulls.
Excellent tickets are still available for Saturday’s game:
Buy online
Admission Network: 1-855-790-1245 - 9am-8pm (but until 2pm on Saturday)
Montreal Impact: 514-328-3668 - 9am-5pm
In person: Stade Saputo - starting at 9am
Online: admission.com - until 2pm on Saturday
20th anniversary celebrations
This matchup will mark the second of three games celebrating the club’s 20th anniversary. As part of the game day festivities, the Impact will introduce a few players from the 2004 championship team prior to kickoff at centre field.
Also, in partnership with patisserie Les Délices Lafrenaie, la Fédération des producteurs d'œufs de consommation du Québec and Saputo, spectators in attendance will have the chance to taste the giant anniversary cake (peanut-free) before the start of the game (from 5:30 to 7pm), near the main entrance.
The Impact invites you to visit the l’équipe Techo-Bloc kiosque on Saturday at the game for your chance to win an outdoor Techo-Bloc fireplace valued at $10,000.
Just before kickoff, the organization has another surprise for all those in attendance.
Preview: Sinisa Ubiparipovic
Head to Head
This is the first of three regular-season games between the teams in 2013. In preseason action, the two teams tied 0-0 on February 15, at Everbank Field, in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Impact and Philadelphia Union faced each other twice in 2012. The Impact lost 2-1 on July 14 at PPL Park, before winning 2-0 at Stade Saputo on August 4.
Impact news
This matchup with the Union will be the first in a series of three games in seven days for the Impact, travelling to Vancouver to play the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final series next Wednesday, before flying to Kansas City to take on Sporting KC on Saturday, June 1.
In its last matchup, the Impact played the Vancouver Whitecaps FC to a scoreless draw at Stade Saputo, in the first leg of the ACC final aggregate goal series. Defender Jeb Brovsky suffered a broken nose but may play this Saturday with a protective mask after reconstructive surgery to repair his nose.
Central defender Alessandro Nesta could also play, returning from an adductor strain that has forced him to miss the last three regular season matches. Midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic is also back after missing three months due to a right calf injury.
Defender Maxim Tissot is expected to miss approximately three weeks due to a toe fracture suffered in the last game.
WATCH: Head coach Marco Schällibaum previews game against Union (FR and EN)
WATCH: Bernier and Di Vaio (FR)
Impact Designated Player Marco Di Vaio, who has scored in every MLS home game this season, is currently tied for second place in league scoring with six goals in just 10 games, two behind league leader Jack McInerney of the Union.
WATCH: Union preview
Philadelphia Union news
The Union is in fifth spot in the Eastern Conference, sitting on 18 points from 12 games, and have three road wins so far this season (1st in MLS).
In its last matchup, Philadelphia defeated the Chicago Fire at home by a 1-0 score, with the only goal coming in the third minute by McInerney, who has scored half of the Union’s goals this season. The 20-year-old striker was named MLS Player of the Month for April, scoring four goals in as many games.
Philadelphia Union acquired veteran Brazilian international José Kléberson on loan from Esporte Clube Bahia last month, while reaching a contract termination by mutual consent with Freddy Adu, who subsequently signed with Bahia. Kléberson, a former FIFA World Cup Champion, has made four appearances since joining the Union but has yet to see the score sheet.
In the offseason, the Union addressed its lack of goal scoring by acquiring veteran American striker Conor Casey from the Colorado Rapids. Casey has two goals and two assists in 10 games played. The team from the city of brotherly love also brought back former star Sebastien Le Toux after spending the 2012 season in Vancouver and New York. The French forward managed one goal and four assists in seven games played in 2013.
To shore up its defence, Philadelphia acquired veteran MLS defender Jeff Parke and his 200 plus games in MLS from the Seattle Sounders.
Upcoming games
The team hits the road for its next three games. The first will be at BC Place on Wednesday, May 29, at 10pm (ET) against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final aggregate goal series. Then three days later, the Impact will face Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park on Saturday, June 1, at 8:30pm (ET). Finally, the Impact will take on the Crew in Columbus on June 15, at 7:30pm (ET).
