Montreal Impact host Toronto FC: Familiar Matchup , Different Teams

Familiar Matchup , Different Teams

It's another local derby in Major League Soccer with Montreal playing Toronto and it's a tale of 2 team that left each other a month ago in the Canadian Championship Semi-Final and have since changed a lot. Toronto FC has since changed head coach , letting go of Aaron Winter and bringing in Paul Mariner. Under Mariner's command, Toronto has lost once, tied twice and seemed to look better as a team but with some question marks around its defensive core and ability to shut down games when having a lead: Sounds familiar Montreal Impact fans?

In the month of June, Montreal has won twice at home and lost 1 game away at Chivas USA, a game within its grasps for at least 1 point. Both teams know each other after having played each other 3 times but a lot has changed since. On one side, Montreal has been able to score more goals and finish off worthy adversaries (4 goals vs Seattle and Houston) . On the other side, Toronto has found a scoring touch in a 4-4-2 associating Danny Koevermans and Ryan Johnson, a 2-striker partnership that the Impact has difficulties to defend against.

With the Montreal defense depleted by injuries (Matteo Ferrari and Nelson Rivas injured) and TFC's defense still in search for a boss , this could be a very open game with a lot of space but maybe, just maybe, both teams might be cautious to keep tight and simple and wait for the other team to make mistakes. One thing for sure is that Paul Mariner will have a special plan to counter Marco Di Vaio, the Montreal Impact Designated Player but will they cover the Original DP, Felipe Martins?

More after the jump

Montreal Impact (5-8-3) vs Toronto FC (1-10-2)

Stade Saputo, Montreal, QC

June 27th, 2012

7:30 p.m. ET (TSN/RDS)

Injury Report:

Montreal Impact - OUT: DF Matteo Ferrari (R quad strain); FW Bernardo Corradi (L knee ACL tear); FW Andrew Wenger (L hamstring strain); FW Evan James (L ankle sprain)

Toronto FC - OUT: FW Nicholas Lindsay (L knee surgery recovery); GK Stefan Frei (L lower leg); DF Ty Harden (R adductor strain); DF Adrian Cann (R knee sprain); FW Joao Plata (R hamstring strain); PROBABLE: DF Aaron Maund (R eye hyphema); DF Logan Emory (shoulder subluxation)

Referee:

Kevin Stott. SAR (bench): Adam Wienckowski; JAR (opposite): Brian Poeschel; 4th: Geoff Gamble -- MLS Career: 223 games; FC/gm: 25.7; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 58; pens: 45

Disciplinary Situation

Suspended: none

Warnings: (suspended next yellow card): Felipe Martins

Pre-Game Comments

Montreal Impact

Toronto FC

Paul Mariner, head coach