The following is a Press Release from the Montreal Impact:
Impact Faces TFC at BMO Field Wednesday Night
First of back-to-back road games in just four days
TORONTO, Ontario – The Montreal Impact hits the road for its first of back-to-back road games this Wednesday, at 8pm, against Toronto FC at BMO Field (TSN, RDS, TSN Radio 690, 98,5fm), looking to improve on its solid run as of late, winners of five of its last seven matches.
While the rest of the province will be celebrating Saint-Jean Baptiste Day back home in Quebec, the team will be looking for its first ever win against rivals TFC on the road, to help add to the celebration.
“It would be great for the city and our fans,” said head coach Frank Klopas. “The players are going into the game with the right mentality. We have the confidence going in and now we have to keep improving as the challenges keep growing.”
One of those challenges will be playing two road games in four nights, with the second in Philadelphia on Saturday, but with a win, the team can leapfrog Toronto into fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
“We have to play the same game on the road that we do at home,” added defender Laurent Ciman, who was named to the MLS Team of the Week. “We have to show the same spirit and play until the end, by holding the ball and circulating it.”
The biggest obstacle for the Impact may be in midfield, as TFC has some star power with the likes of Sebastien Giovinco and Michael Bradley, but the key for IMFC will be team play.
Adding to the challenge will be the fact that the Bleu-blanc-noir eliminated the Reds on its own grounds by scoring two away goals in a 3-3 aggregate score in the semifinals of the Amway Canadian Championship this past May.
“Football is a team sport. One person may have an individual moment of brilliance, but winning is done by the whole team,” explained Nigel Reo-Coker. “This is a good test for us and we’ve got to perform the way we know we can for these two road games coming up.”
Midfielder Maxim Tissot will be available for both games this week, before joining the Canadian national team for Gold Cup duty.
The second of the back-to-back road games is set for Saturday, at PPL Park, against the Philadelphia Union at 7pm (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
