With the Impact coming off a bye-week in the MLS, they no doubt took time to reflect on the first eight games of the season, and begin preparing for two significant matches this week. On Wednesday, the Impact travel to Edmonton to play the first leg of their Amway Canadian Championship (ACC) match against Edmonton F.C. and follow with a match at Stade Saputo against Sporting Kansas City.
Montreal are the defending ACC champions and will no doubt use this match to provide playing time to younger players and build off their first MLS victory. On Monday afternoon the Impact announced that academy players: Amine Meftouh, Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, Victor Ndiaye, and Anthony Jackson-Hamel would travel with the first team to Edmonton. Although Edmonton F.C. is a weaker side, the Impact’s ownership take the ACC seriously, and expect to see a few regulars make the trip to Edmonton.
One or both of these two matches could see the return of injured players, Hernán Bernardello, Adrián López, and Sanna Nyassi, who have all been absent for varying lengths of time due to injury. Although Adrián López has been ruled out of the starting lineup on Wednesday, the former Wigan Athletic player has been training with the first team and could feature in his (long awaited) first ever MLS match Saturday against Sporting K.C. A healthy López could spur some much needed life into what has been a leaky back-line for the Impact. Montreal have allowed fourteen goals in the first eight matches.
Evan Bush is set to return to the goal for Montreal. As with last season, the Impact appear ready to utilize Bush in cup matches. Although Bush saw little playing time last season, he was excellent when he did play. Wednesday could also see Uruguayan striker Santiago González see some playing time. González has only played a total of 38 minutes in four appearances this season since being brought in to help the Montreal attack.
Saturday will see the Impact host last years defending MLS champions, Sporting K.C. The Impact hope to build off of the victory against the Philadelphia Union on April 26. Sporting K.C. eased to a 4-0 victory on April 19 against Montreal. In the previous meeting, the Impact started a very young defence and this Saturday could see a very different starting back line. Manager, Frank Klopas, is still trying to figure out how to use Marco Di Vaio and Jack McInerney together on the field at the same time. Furthermore, It will be interesting to see if (and how) Jeb Brovsky is used this week by Frank Klopas. A regular starter last season under Marco Schällibaum, the defender from Colorado, has not seen much playing time this season, prior to the victory over the Union.
Klopas will have a find a balance this week while choosing his starters between the two matches. The Impact are still looking for cohesiveness on the pitch, and hope the return of Hernán Bernardello will help with set-pieces. It was roughly a year ago, when the Impact lost their first ACC match in Toronto spurring on a 6-0 victory in the return leg. Montreal will be hoping that the ACC can again kick-start their season and provide some momentum going into the MLS match against Sporting K.C. on the weekend.
Amway Canadian Championship Fast Facts:
● This would be Hernán Bernardello, Santiago González, Jack McInerney, Eric Miller, Adrián López first ACC match if they play on Wednesday.
● Marco Di Vaio lead the Impact in scoring in last seasons ACC with two goals in three appearances. Six other players for the Impact scored one goal during the Championship.
● Hassoun Camara and Patrice Bernier led the Impact in playing time last season in the ACC playing 360 minutes each.
● In two away matches last season in the ACC saw the Impact lose 2-0 in Toronto and a 2-2 draw in Vancouver for the Impact to clinch the Championship.
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