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Well, that was embarrassing. Fresh off a 3-0 loss, at home, to Orlando City, the Impact look to make up for the unexpected setback when Seattle Sounders visit Stade Saputo, Wednesday evening.
This past weekend Montreal were exposed by the Floridians. There is no other way around it. Remi Garde’s team achieved early season success keeping themselves afloat in the Eastern Conference standings. However, as time goes on more flaws continue to emerge
We need look no further than the team`s goal difference to know the Montreal Impact are not a side ready to seriously compete for MLS Cup. Goal difference currently sits at -8. For reference, Columbus Crew sit in 10th place in the East and they also have a -8 goal difference.
LAFC lead the MLS in points with a goal difference of +26. It seems clear that despite what the table shows, Montreal Impact is more closely aligned to the bottom half of the MLS standings than it is to the top.
Last year, a chronic start to the season kept Montreal Impact out of a playoff spot. The trend is somewhat reversed this year but the result will remain the same unless some consistently positive results emerge.
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With the Impact clearly struggling to find anything resembling a winning momentum, victory over Seattle would be a welcome boost. The Sounders however, are challenging hard for top spot honours in the West and with the sustaining injury list at Stade Saputo, the odds don’t exactly favour Montreal to prevail. Seattle remains a top three seed in the Western Conference despite dropping points in each of their last two matches.
Montreal will be without veteran right back Bacary Sagna after suffering injury during the last match against Orlando City. He will be replaced by Zachary Brault-Guillard. And of course Nacho Piatti remains sidelined with a knee problem.
A loss would see Montreal defeated twice in succession for the first time in 2019. But the good news is the trend set this season has seen them respond well and positively to set-backs. Confidence has taken a dent with recent reverses, and another home loss so soon after last weekend’s, would be felt badly.
On the other hand, a bounce-back success against one of the league’s top sides would be a quick way to restore confidence. It would in fact be, just what the doctor ordered.
Will the real Montreal Impact please stand up?