NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. MONTREAL IMPACT
2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League
October 22 | 8 pm ET | Red Bull Arena
TV: Fox Sports 2
A pair of teams on very different trajectories in different competitions come together on Wednesday night as the Montreal Impact travel to face the New York Red Bulls having already advanced and looking to complete a perfect campaign in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League group stage. The Red Bulls, meanwhile, are out of the CCL and fully focused on the playoffs, and head coach Mike Petke will be using the game to assess the level of some of his reserve players ahead of the postseason.
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GUNNING FOR THE TOP FOUR: After some unhappy trips to Mexico earlier this year, MLS teams now seem to be savvy to the benefits of seeding in the CCL quarterfinals. The Impact can guarantee themselves a top-four seed for next spring with a win over the Red Bulls (they are one of four teams still able to reach the maximum 12 points in the group stage). A draw could get them there, but the CCL is unforgiving to teams who take those kinds of chances.
WHO’LL STEP UP? It’s a good question for both teams – in Montreal’s case, they will be without Designated Players Marco Di Vaio (suspended) and Ignacio Piatti (who Frank Klopas has all but ruled out). That means more opportunities for the likes of Jack McInerney and Felipe Martins, the goalscorer in the weekend’s draw at Toronto FC.
For already-eliminated New York, it will be a chance for Petke to see what some of his lesser-used players can offer in a competitive setting. He’s singled out midfielders Ian Christianson and Ruben Bover specifically as players he will turn to, while Richard Eckersley, Chris Duvall, Marius Obekop and Ryan Meara are all likely to get looks as well.
- LAST TIME OUT: Impact edge past Red Bulls for big CCL boost
ROAD WOES: Even against a weakend Red Bulls team, the Impact will need to steel themselves as they leave the friendly confines of Quebec. They are winless on the road in MLS play since Sept. 8 of last year, and their only away win in any competition came in El Salvador against FAS earlier in the CCL group stage. If they can show the kind of character assistant coach Mauro Biello praised after that win, they should be in solid shape for the quarterfinals and can end an otherwise forgettable season on a high note in continental play.
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PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Ruben Bover, New York Red Bulls: The 22-year-old Spaniard has been a frequent sight on Petke’s bench in recent weeks and recently scored his first career MLS goal in a win over Toronto FC. He was singled out by Petke as a player he’d be looking at during the game and will want to prove he’s a reliable option in attack come playoff time.
Felipe Martins, Montreal Impact: Could be called on to pull the strings in attack in the absence of Piatti and Di Vaio. If he can score the kind of goal he netted against Toronto FC over the weekend, that could be the icing on the cake.
