MONTREAL IMPACT vs. FC EDMONTON
Stade Saputo, Montreal, Quebec
May 14, 2014 (Amway Canadian Championship semifinal second leg)
7:30 pm ET (Sportsnet One in Canada, FREE STREAM on MLSsoccer.com in US, Mexico)
As the top seed in the tournament, the Montreal Impact earned the right to host the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship at Stade Saputo Wednesday night. After losing the first leg to second-tier side FC Edmonton 2-1 last week, home field advantage will be even more important for the bleu-blanc-noir.
The Impact need to win 1-0 (due to the away goals rule) or by a two-goal differential to advance.
“We were down after the first leg in the dressing room,” said defender Hassoun Camara. “This game at home is chance to get our revenge. We‘ve had good results in this tournament before and we are the defending champs, so we want to be in the final to defend our title. We need to work as hard as possible to get out of this funk and playing at home could help us turn things around.”
Despite the Impact opening the score with a Jack McInerney header, the Eddies managed to find two goals in the second half including the game-winner in stoppage time.
“These cup games are always tricky,” said Impact head coach Frank Klopas. “Sporting Kansas City lost to USL side Orlando last year in the US Open Cup and they ended the year as MLS Cup champs. The important thing is to approach these games in a focused and serious manner. We are playing at home, so we have to represent the team and leave everything on the field. This isn’t only an opportunity to get a positive result, but a chance to make the finals of this tournament.”
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To ensure that they remain focused for the full 90 minutes, the Impact’s game plan on Wednesday night is to open the machine offensively.
“We are going into the game not only to win, but to score the most goals as possible,” added Camara. “Having scored one on the road is good for us, and even though a 1-0 score for us at home would be enough to move on, you never know what could happen with an unlucky bounce, and so we aren’t going to play just for a 1-0 win. We have to dominate the match.”
Game Notes
- Since 2012, the Impact have not given up a goal at home in the three ACC games.
- The Impact need to win by a 1-0 shutout or by a two-goal differential to advance.
- The Impact are coming off of a 3-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City in their most recent game at Stade Saputo, after playing almost 75 minutes down a man following a red card to Collen Warner.
- Camara, who missed Saturday’s game due to suspension, should be available for Wednesday’s game, while Marco Di Vaio and Matteo Ferrari remain questionable due to injuries.
- Evan Bush will start in goal for the Impact.
- After starting the season 0-3-1, the Eddies have won two consecutive 2-1 games – versus the Impact last Wednesday and then against Indy Eleven on Saturday.
- Toronto lead their semifinal series with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 2-1, with the second leg set for 10:30 pm ET at BC Place.
- The bleu-blanc-noir will then return to MLS regular season play on Saturday May 17, in Washington, to face D.C. United at 7 pm ET.
