LA Galaxy vs. Montreal Impact | MLS Match Preview

MLSsoccer staff

LA GALAXY vs MONTRÉAL IMPACT
STUBHUB CENTER, Carson, Calif.
September 12, 2015 (WEEK 28, MLS Game #280)
7:30 p.m. PT (TWCSN-LA / TWCD; TVA)

A pair of clubs currently holding down places in the MLS Cup Playoffs hunt meet in an interconference matchup when the LA Galaxy entertain the Montréal Impact at StubHub Center on Saturday evening. The Galaxy sit in second place in the Western Conference, two points out of the top spot, returning to action following a 1-0 loss at the San Jose Earthquakes two weekends ago. The Impact pulled into sixth place in the Eastern Conference and the final postseason position, following a dramatic come-from-behind 4-3 win against the Chicago Fire at Stade Saputo last weekend.

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Didier Drogba made an impact in his first MLS and Montréal Impact start in a big way, scoring a hat trick – including the game-tying and winning goals four minutes apart midway through the second half – leading his new club back for a 4-3 win Saturday evening at Stade Saputo.
The Galaxy saw their four-game winning run put to an end in their last match, falling 1-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes on Aug. 28 at Avaya Stadium.
The teams reached a 2-2 draw in their only meeting a year ago, the first match ever between the teams at Stade Saputo. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting, May 12, 2012 at Olympic Stadium in Montréal.
The Galaxy claimed a 1-0 victory in 2013 at StubHub Center in their only encounter in Carson.

REFEREE: Mark Geiger. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Marco Arruda; 4th: Kevin Stott
MLS Career: 142 games; FC/gm: 26.6; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 34; pens: 44

SUSPENDED: LA: Leonardo (through Sept. 13) … MTL: Laurent Ciman (through Sept. 16)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: LA: Baggio Husidic … MTL: Marco Donadel, Dominic Oduro
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: LA: Juninho, Mika Vayrynen, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Gyasi Zardes, Robbie Rogers … MTL: Nigel Reo-Coker, Calum Mallace, Bakary Soumare, Andres Romero
DISABLED LIST: LA: Brian Perk (season-ending injury) … MTL: Cameron Porter, Kenny Cooper (season-ending injury)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (3 meetings): Galaxy 1 win, 4 goals … Impact 0 wins, 3 goals … Ties 2
AT LA (1 meeting): Galaxy 1 win, 1 goal … Impact 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 0
LAST YEAR (MLS)
9/10: MTL 2, LA 2 (Di Vaio 28; Piatti 43 – Zardes 59; Gordon 64)

This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
The teams reached a 2-2 draw in their only meeting a year ago, the first match ever between the teams atStade Saputo. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting, May 12, 2012 at Olympic Stadium in Montréal.
The Galaxy claimed a 1-0 victory in 2013 at StubHub Center in their only encounter in Carson.
Coaches record: Bruce Arena vs. MTL: P3 W1 L0 D2 … Mauro Biello vs. LA: first game