Montreal Impact vs. Colorado Rapids | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Montreal Impact vs. Colorado Rapids
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 19
Stade Saputo — Montreal
July 7 - 7:30 pm ET
WATCH: TVAS, ESPN+

Two teams that were left for dead appear to be making a summer comeback with the Montreal Impact having won three straight games and the Colorado Rapids coming to Stade Saputo off their first loss in four games.

The Impact had a statement win on the weekend, defeating Western Conference-leading Sporting Kansas City, 2-0, at home, while the Rapids had their three-game unbeaten streak snapped when they fell to Seattle Sounders FC, 2-1, on Wednesday night.

Montreal Impact

The Impact (7-11-0) followed consecutive wins over Orlando City SC with an impressive 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City at home Saturday night. That’s now three straight clean sheets and shutout wins in four of their last five games.

Ignacio Piatti and Alejandro Silva scored second-half goals, but the Impact lost defensive linchpin Samuel Piette to a hip injury late in the first half.

“We had to adapt quickly to get settled quickly," Rémi Garde said. “It was difficult, but I think the group found the right answers and we start to get rewarded. But in football, everything is fragile. If we do not stay as committed, we will be punished.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Ken Krolicki, D - Chris Duvall
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Zakaria Diallo (ruptured Achilles tendon), D - Kyle Fisher (tibia injury), M - David Choiniere (ankle surgery), M - Louis Beland-Goyette (foot injury); QUESTIONABLE: M - Jeisson Vargas (undisclosed injury), M - Samuel Piette (hip injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Evan Bush — Chris Duvall, Rod Fanni, Rudy Camacho, Daniel Lovitz — Ken Krolicki, Shamit Shome, Saphir Taider — Alejandro Silva, Matteo Mancosu, Ignacio Piatti

Colorado Rapids

For the second straight year, it was the visiting Sounders providing the fireworks on the Fourth of July as Will Bruin struck for a brace to lift Seattle to a 2-1 win over Colorado. Bruin opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Sam Nicholson leveled five minutes before halftime.

Bruin netted his second in the 59th minute and Stefan Frei made sure the result held with a sensational stop to rob Shkelzen Gashi from a sure equalizer in the 82nd minute.

“Disappointed, wasn’t a good night,” Anthony Hudson said. “[We] started poorly and gave ourselves too much to do, give away soft goals and disappointed, disappointed.”

Suspended: M - Edgar Castillo
Suspended after next caution: M - Johan Blomberg
International duty: None
Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: D - Marlon Hairston (undisclosed injury)

Projected Starting XI
(3-4-2-1, right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Kortne Ford, Axel Sjoberg, Tommy Smith — Deklan Wynne, Jack Price, Danny Wilson, Joe Mason - Dominique Badji, Sam Nicholson — Yannick Boli

All-Time Series

Overall: Montreal Impact 1 win, 10 goals … Colorado Rapids 4 wins, 15 goals … 1 draw
At Montreal: Impact 0 wins, 5 goals … Rapids 1 win, 6 goals … 1 draw
Last meeting at Montreal: Montreal Impact 2, Colorado Rapids 2 (April 30, 2016)