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In the only meeting of the year between both teams, one of the 10-founding clubs of Major League Soccer hosts the 19th MLS franchise and the newest expansion team, the Montreal Impact. The Colorado Rapids will be hosting their 2nd consecutive home game as the Montreal Impact are on the road...again..looking to get a result in Colorado. On one side, the Rapids are trying to consolidate 5th place and go higher in the standings in a difficult Western Conference. On the other side, the Impact want to get close to the playoff race in a Eastern Conference that has become tighter than earlier in the season.
At the end, both teams want the 3 points and as much as it''s obvious to say so, a 3 point jump is so huge in soccer that a couple of consecutive wins and a team is back on track. An interesting fact/statistic about the Colorado Rapids against expansion teams: The Colorado Rapids are 4-4-2 all-time in their first meeting against expansion teams. They are also 8-1-1 in their first home game versus expansion teams.
Let's hope that the soccer gods are not astute statisticians..more after the jump
What
via montrealimpact.com
3-6-3 (W-L-T) - 8th in the Eastern Conference
VS
via www.coloradorapids.com
5-6-1 ( W-L-T) -5th in the Western Conference
Where:
DICK'S SPORTING GOODS PARK, Commerce City, Colorado
When:
7 p.m. MT
Broadcast:
Altitude; ENG - FM 93.7, AM 1510; SPA - FM 87.7 -- TVA Sports for Montreal
Referee crew:
Mark Kadlecik. SAR (bench): Claudio Badea; JAR (opposite): Brian Dunn; 4th: Mark Declouet MLS Career: 20 games; FC/gm: 24.7; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 5; pens: 6
Injury Report (As of May 26thth ):
Montreal Impact: OUT: DF Josh Gardner (L hamstring tendinitis); FW Evan James (nose fracture); QUESTIONABLE: DF Zarek Valentin (R calf contusion); MF Justin Mapp (R calf strain); PROBABLE: MF Sinisa Ubiparipovic (L groin strain); M Felipe (L groin strain)
Colorado Rapids: OUT: DF Anthony Wallace (L Achilles tear); MF Pablo Mastroeni (headaches); DF Marvell Wynne (R hamstring strain); FW Omar Cummings (L ankle sprain); DOUBTFUL: MF Brian Mullan (L knee sprain); FW Conor Casey (R hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Ross LaBauex (sports hernia); PROBABLE: MF Jamie Smith (R ACL tear)
Probable Lineups:
Montreal: Ricketts - Brovsky , Rivas, Ferrari, Wahl - Nyassi, Warner, Bernier, Arnaud - Montano, Corradi
Colorado: Meara - Kimura, Marshall, Moor, Freeman - Larentowicz, Thompson, Rivero, Castrillon - Cascio, Hill
Keys to the game
Possession vs Possession
Both teams enjoy and want to have possession of the ball. The Montreal Impact are above expectations for an expansion team with a more than decent midfield led by no other than Felipe Martins. He is usually backed up by Patrice Bernier or Collen Warner. The latter is a Colorado native so this game will be special with family and friends coming in to support the local boy. It will be also the return of Sanna Nyassi at Colorado as the Gambian forward/winger left the Rapids after he was drafted by Montreal in the expansion draft.
The Impact enjoy passing the ball around and had success when Felipe and Warner were finding the wide midfielders and the outside backs quickly. Look for the Colorado Rapids like the New York Red Bulls did to press the midfield aggressively. Montreal might even give possession away and defend and play the counter attack as they previously did against Sporting Kansas City.
The Colorado Rapids have gone through a shift and chance in its tactical game and its philosophy. Under Parejo, the team has switched from finding its strikers via the long ball but playing more within the midfield. As we speak, Colorado has enjoyed an average possession of 54.73% and having watched a couple of games of the Rapids, they will not rush to get the ball forward but will push ahead in numbers; look for Larentowicz, , Rivero and Castrillon throughout the game
Efficiency, Efficiency, Efficiency for Montreal
Efficiency in front of the net: Especially when playing away, being efficient with whatever chances you get has been one of Montreal's key to success. The offensive potential is there but some quality in the last pass and synchronization between the players has lacked in a few plays. If the outside backs (Tyson Wahl and Jeb Brosvky) can come up the offensive zone and give a helping hand, that could be a difference maker in the game.
Efficiency when passing the ball: You can pass 1000 times but it's what you do with the ball. If you end up passing the ball back to your defense and tally 300-500 passes a game, well, you haven't done much with the ball. When the Impact is able to carry on a high temp game with quick one touch passing, it's then that the team flourishes as they have previously shown against the Portland Timbers for example. It's not always how long you have the ball but what you do with it.
Donovan Ricketts vs Matt Pickens : Statistical View
| GK | GP | GS | MIN | SHTS | SV | GA | GAA | PG | PA | SO |
| Ricketts | 12 | 12 | 1080 | 59 | 38 | 18 | 1.5 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Pickens | 12 | 12 | 1080 | 59 | 44 | 16 | 1.33 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Legend: GP: Games Played, GS: Games Started, MIN: Minutes Played, SHTS: Shots, SV: Saves, GA: Goals Against, GAA: Goals Against Average, PG: Penalty Kick Goals, PA: Penalty Kick Against , SO: Shutouts
Montreal Impact Pre-Game comments
Colorado Rapids Pre-Game comments
none available