MONTREAL IMPACT vs. CD HEREDIA
STADE SAPUTO, Montreal, Que.
September 24, 2013 (CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage)
8 pm ET (Sportsnet/TVA Sports in Canada, UDN in USA)
The Montreal Impact (1-2-0) host CD Heredia (2-0-0) in their final game of the CONCACAF Champions League group stage. Following a 0-0 tie in the first leg in Montreal and a 2-2 tie in the return leg in Vancouver, the Impact won the Voyageurs Cup against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and punched their ticket for the CONCACAF Champions League as Amway Canadian Championship winners.
In the group phase, the Impact faced the San Jose Earthquakes, winners of the 2012 MLS Supporters' Shield, and Guatemalean club CD Heredia, finalists in the Clausura championship after Communicaciones already qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League, over two legs.
Montreal Impact news
The Impact are tied for second in the group standings with San Jose at three points, while CD Heredia top the group with two victories, both at home.
The Impact took the first matchup of the group stage against the San Jose Earthquakes by a 1-0 score at Stade Saputo back on August 7. Then on August 21, the Impact traveled to Guatemala to take on Heredia, falling 1-0 after forward Charles Cordova found an 88th-minute goal. Finally, in San Jose last Tuesday, the Impact fell 3-0 to the Quakes at Buck Shaw Stadium, in California.
With a convincing shutout win Tuesday night against the Guatemalan side and a favorable result for San Jose in their final game against Heredia on October 23, the Impact still have a mathematical chance of moving on in CCL play based on goal differential.
Montreal are on a three-game losing streak, falling to the Whitecaps FC Saturday at Stade Saputo 3-0 in their most recent outing. During that stretch, the Impact also fell to the Columbus Crew at home 2-1 on September 24 to go along with the loss last Tuesday to the Quakes.
Midfielder Collen Warner, who was suspended for last week’s CONCACAF tilt due to yellow-card accumulation, is available for selection vs. Heredia.
CD Heredia news
In their most recent matchup last Friday, CD Heredia beat Mictlán 3-1 following goals from Anderson Andrade, Charles Cordova and Osmar Lopez at Estadio Del Monte, in Morales.
Heredia are currently third in the 2013 Apertura standings of the Liga Nacional de Guatemala with 16 points, following a record of five wins, three losses and one tie.
Forward Osmar Lopez is currently the league leader for goals with seven in the 2013 Apertura, including a brace in a win against Universidad San Carlos as well as a hat trick in a win against Xelajú.
Established in 1958, Heredia are participating in their first-ever CONCACAF Champions League.
In CCL play, Heredia are tops in the group thanks to a pair of 1-0 victories in Guatemala against the Impact and the San Jose Earthquakes.
CD Heredia will conclude their CONCACAF Champions League group play by visiting the San Jose Earthquakes on October 23 at Buck Shaw Stadium.
