MONTREAL – Could Saturday be the day when the Montreal Impact overturn their road futility?
Most everything else has gone right for the Impact so far in 2015. And the signs are certainly positive for Montreal – who didn’t win away from their home at all last season – heading into their matchup with the New England Revolution (3 pm ET; MLS LIVE).
Montreal, for their part, may have lost 1-0 at D.C. United in their only league fixture, but they are riding high in the CONCACAF Champions League. With a 2-0 semifinal first leg win Wednesday in the bag against Alajuelense, they could become the first Canadian finalists in the competition.
There's confidence in the Impact camp, a sentiment that perhaps the floodgates have opened up front with five goals in four games across all competitions. But there's caution, as well, perhaps stemming from the fact that they’re coming off a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
“We're careful, because [New England] are a good team,” Impact captain Patrice Bernier told reporters on Friday. “They have lots of attacking qualities. Yes, they may have some defensive issues, especially as they've lost a big player [suspended Jose Gonçalves], their captain. We have to remain the same. We have to go forward, playing with confidence.”
More positives signs for Montreal have to do with their opponents' struggles.
The Revolution started the season with a tough reality check – two straight losses – after coming so close to winning MLS Cup last season.
They’ve conceded five goals while scoring none – though with notable absentees such as Lee Nguyen in an opening-week loss to Seattle and Jermaine Jones in both the Seattle game and a defeat at New York City FC last weekend.
Gonçalves’ suspension adds to their worries, and they’ll still be without Jones.
“[The technical staff] has definitely been discussing [the Revolution’s defensive issues] and how to take advantage of their style of play at the back,” Montreal forward Cameron Porter said. “They tend to spread their center backs, so hopefully I’ll be open on the counter.”
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Porter, with his dramatic equalizer to seal a CCL quarterfinals series victory over Mexican side Pachuca, became a symbol of the Impact’s renaissance in 2015. While returning to MLS play proved difficult against D.C. United, Porter, who appears set to play a part again this weekend, is adamant that things will be different as they ready themselves to play on short rest.
“There is a challenge there, having to switch our focus,” Porter said. “But I think we’re definitely ready for this game. Maybe there were some tired legs yesterday, but I think we’ve rested enough.”
It won’t be enough time for Dilly Duka, though. The attacking midfielder left the midweek game with tightness in his left leg and will be out this weekend. Andres Romero has just started training again and shouldn’t be an option to replace Justin Mapp, who will only return from elbow surgery in the summer months, possibly leaving the door open for Blake Smith or Jack McInerney to claim Duka's starting spot.
Still, this is quite the opportunity for Montreal; and it just so happens that their last win on the road was Sept. 8, 2013 – a 4-2 victory at… New England.
