The Montreal Impact beat the Portland Timbers last weekend to stay undefeated at home (2-0-1). The team then played Toronto FC on Wednesday in the 2012 Amway Canadian Championship semifinal (the first leg). IMFC will take on Sporting KC this weekend, who are currently leading the Eastern Conference standings.
Sporting have scored 12 goals, only allowed three and have seven wins in their first eight games. The game they lost was against the Timbers and it was an own goal that won it for Portland.
Montreal head coach Jesse Marsch knows how good KC is but doesn’t feel like this weekend’s game is anything too big for his expansion Impact.
“They have a good team,” Marsch said. “It will be a very good test, but I expect us to go there and get a result. We’ll have to keep things tight, because they have some speed. They are physically gifted and we will have to watch out for their set pieces.”
KC forward Kei Kamarais first in MLS with 40 shots, second with 18 on goal and tied for fifth in scoring with four goals, while midfielder Graham Zusi is second in the league with six assists. Interestingly enough, KC doesn’t have a designated player on their roster.
Impact defenders Nelson Rivas and Hassoun Camara are planning to see their very first game action of the season against KC. Both have been out due to injuries since preseason. Marsch hinted that we should expect a good amount of changes to his lineup.
“We’re going to have a lot of new faces on Saturday, but we are still expecting to put a good team on the field and go for the result,” Marsch said. “Hassoun has really moved himself along and he looks sharp, and so has Rivas.”
(image courtesy of Charles William/Impact de Montreal)
