FC Dallas – Montreal Impact
Saturday, March 8 – 8:30pm ET
Toyota Stadium
TV: TVA Sports
Radio: CJAD 800
Mobile: illico mobile, illico web, MLSLive
Viewing party: Champs Sports Bar, 3956 Blvd Saint-Laurent
FRISCO, Texas – The wait finally ends this weekend as the bleu-blanc-noir kicks off the 2014 campaign, travelling to Texas to take on FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday at 8:30pm ET. The game will be broadcast live on TVA Sports as well as on the radio with CJAD 800. You can also get live updates using the newest version of the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.
This is just the third meeting between the two teams since the Impact joined MLS. Last season, Dallas headed north to Stade Saputo, earning a 0-0 draw on July 20. In its inaugural campaign, the Impact fell 2-1 in Texas.
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Latest team news
The Impact, which finished the 2013 season in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, going 14-13-7 on the year and making its first ever playoff appearance, went 2-3-1 in six preseason games.
Injuries to defenders Nelson Rivas (who is suspended for one game anyway), Adrian Lopez and Maxim Tissot kept them from travelling with the team, but newcomer Heath Pearce will be available. The former US international and three-time MLS All-Star officially joined the Impact on Thursday.
Striker Marco Di Vaio and midfielder Andrés Romero will both serve the first game of three-game suspensions following their ejections from the playoff knockout game against the Houston Dynamo last October.
Watch - Pregame comments:Collen Warner | Blake Smith | Mauro Biello
Uruguayan forward Santiago Gonzalez also joined the Impact in 2014 (Feb. 14), after leading his team in scoring in his country’s top flight last aperture season. American defender Eric Miller also joined the club through the SuperDraft on January 16.
Five players from the Impact U23 team, defenders Amine Meftouh and John Dinkota, midfielder Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé as well as forwards Victor Ndiaye and Frédéric Lajoie-Gravelle made the trip to Texas as the Impact will play an MLS Reserve League game on Sunday versus FC Dallas at 11:30am ET).
FC Dallas news
Last season, FC Dallas finished in 8th spot in the Western Conference with an 11-12-11 record, despite a strong start. Panamanian forward Blas Perez led the team in scoring with 11 goals, while goalkeeper Raul Fernandez was an All-Star in 2013.
Out of the playoff picture in 2013, FC Dallas made a number of changes in the offseason, unloading former league MVP David Ferreira, forward Kenny Cooper and Brazilian midfielder Jackson. To offset those moves, the Texan club acquired Scottish midfielder Adam Moffat (Seattle Sounders FC) and Honduran international Hendry Thomas (Colorado Rapids), signed forward Andres Escobar (Columbia) on loan from Ukranian side Dynamo Kiev in February of this year, and inked Uruguayan forward David Texeira as a Young Designated Player last month.
One of the biggest additions to the club is new head coach Oscar Pareja, who led a young Colorado Rapids side to a post-season berth in 2013.
Defender George John is expected to miss the game due to injury.
Next game
The Impact plays Dallas again on Sunday at 11:30 am ET in an MLS Reserve League match at the FC Dallas Soccer Center.
The team will train in Dallas until Thursday before heading to Houston to take on the Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday, March 15, at 8:30pm ET. The bleu-blanc-noir then heads back north to host its home opener on March 22 versus the Seattle Sounders FC at Olympic Stadium, at 4pm ET.
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Individual tickets
Get your single game tickets for all home games via Ticketmaster.ca or by calling 1-855-790-1245.
2014 Season tickets
2014 season tickets are now available in six categories, with prices ranging from $339, $443, $546, $667, $885 and $1,230 (taxes included), as well as in the Saputo Family Corner at $224 (kids) and $443 (adults). Memberships for Premium Seats are all sold out and only two suites remain for individual game purchases. Reserve your seat for the 2014 season by contacting our sales services at 514-328-3668.
