|
Third-place NYCFC (14-8-7, 49 points) hold a
10-point lead over the sixth-place Impact (12-14-3, 39) with
five games to go. The teams' first two meetings were at Yankee
Stadium, starting with a 1-1 draw in March. The Blues won the
second meeting, 3-0, on July 11, outshooting the Impact, 23-3,
including 7-0 in shots on target.
But New York, which has had a 14-day break since a 1-1 tie with
D.C. United, has struggled to put the ball in the net recently.
The Blues fired 27 shots in a 1-0 loss to New England and had 31
shots against D.C.
"We could score many goals in the last two games, but the
football is (sometimes) like that," NYCFC coach Domenec Torrent
told the team's website. "Maybe we (shoot) just five or six
times in Montreal, and we are able to score three goals.
"The best way to win is to play well. And we've played well the
last two games. Yes, we need to be more clinical in front of the
goal."
Montreal, which holds a four-point lead over D.C. United for the
final playoff spot, hasn't had any troubles putting the ball in
the net lately, coming in off back-to-back blowout wins over the
New York Red Bulls (3-0) and Philadelphia Union (4-1). But the
Impact still must play at D.C. United, who have a game in hand,
next weekend.
"Against a team that we are fighting with for the playoffs, this
is very important for us," Montreal coach Remi Garde told
MLSsoccer.com.
"The opponent is the opponent at this time of the year," Impact
forward Quincy Amarikwa said. "The focus needs to be on us.
Everything else is noise."
Forwards David Villa and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi lead NYCFC in
goals (11 each), while midfielder Maxi Morales leads in assists
(13). Midfielder Ignacio Piatti leads Montreal in both goals
(13) and assists (12).
--Field Level Media
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
