Montreal Impact vs. DC United | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Montreal Impact vs. DC United
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 23
Stade Saputo — Montreal
August 4 - 7:30 pm ET
WATCH: TVAS, ESPN+

After a five-match home unbeaten streak was snapped last Saturday against Supporters’ Shield-leading Atlanta United, the Montreal Impact hope to start a new streak when they welcome Wayne Rooney and D.C. United to Stade Saputo.

D.C., meanwhile, have wins in two of their last four games, matching their total in their first 14 games of the season.

Montreal are unbeaten in their last six MLS games against D.C. United (4W-2D, inc. playoffs), outscoring them 11-4 in the process, per Opta.

Montreal Impact

After five straight home wins, the Montreal Impact (9-13-1) dropped a 2-1 decision to Atlanta at home on a stormy Saturday night.

Josef Martinez struck for a brace to power the visitors before Ignacio Piatti scored his 11th goal of the season three minutes from full time for the Impact. The loss came on the heels of a Canadian Championship semifinal ouster at Vancouver on Wednesday, when Remi Garde rested Piatti and Alejandro Silva.

“You need to be fresher when you are an attacking player. Tonight, once again, if Nacho could have done what he had done, scoring in the [87th] minute and all the contribution that Alejandro gave, it’s probably because I managed them on Wednesday,” Garde said. “But at the end of the game, of the week, it’s not very positive.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Zakaria Diallo (ruptured Achilles tendon), D - Kyle Fisher (tibia injury), M - David Choinere (ankle surgery), M - Louis Beland-Goyette (foot injury), D - Chris Duvall (calf injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Evan Bush — Jukka Raitala, Rod Fanni, Rudy Camacho, Daniel Lovitz — Ken Krolicki, Samuel Piette, Saphir Taider — Alejandro Silva, Matteo Mancosu, Ignacio Piatti

Notes: D.C. is one of just three teams that Piatti has yet to score against in league play (no goals in five appearances against). … The Impact have one win in their last four games (2L-1D) after winning four consecutive MLS matches.

DC United

D.C. United (4-9-5) rebounded well from a midweek loss to the rival New York Red Bulls — their first defeat at Audi Field — to beat the Colorado Rapids, 2-1, Saturday at home.

Rooney opened the scoring, slipping a shot through Tim Howard’s legs in the 33rd minute. It was the first MLS goal for the Liverpool native, who later broke his nose when defending a corner. Kellyn Acosta leveled for his new team in the 82nd minute, but an own goal by Niki Jackson at the death capped D.C.’s second home win.

“Psychologically, this is huge for our group,” Ben Olsen said. “A tie would have been a tough result today and that’s the reality. For us to have that kind of mentality where come back from the other team scoring a late goal which has been our Achilles heel all year to turn that around and get a winner.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Chris Durkin
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Taylor Kemp (labrum surgery), D - Nick DeLeon (knee injury); PROBABLE: D - Chris Odoi-Atsem (compartment release surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(4-1-4-1, right to left)
GK: David Ousted — Oniel Fisher, Kofi Opare, Steve Birnbaum, Joseph Mora — Russell Canouse— Zoltan Stieber, Paul Arriola, Luciano Acosta, Yamil Asad — Wayne Rooney

Notes: Last weekend, Rooney became the first United player with 3+ shots, 3+ chances created and 1+ goal in a MLS match since Luciano Acosta in April 2017. … Dating back to last season, D.C. United are 2W-18L-5D in their last 25 league road games. They are allowing 2.4 goals per game in that time, keeping just one clean sheet.

All-Time Series

Overall: Montreal Impact 5 wins, 18 goals … D.C. United 5 wins, 18 goals … 5 draws
At Montreal: Impact 4 wins, 13 goals … D.C. United 2 wins, 8 goals … 2 draws
Last meeting at Montreal: Montreal Impact 2, D.C. United 0 (July 1, 2017)