MONTREAL – The red-hot New York Red Bulls will make it a challenge for Montreal to remain undefeated at Olympic Stadium.
At least the Impact won’t have to face Thierry Henry.
The expansion Impact suffered the worst loss of their inaugural Major League Soccer season so far at the hands of the Red Bulls, a 5-2 road drubbing on March 31.
Henry, who scored a hat trick against Montreal in the first meeting of the two teams, won’t be on hand for Saturday night’s game.
The French superstar is recovering from a right hamstring injury he suffered shortly after scoring his ninth goal of the season early in New York’s 1-0 win at New England on April 30.
Despite Henry’s absence, the Red Bulls come to Montreal on a four-game winning streak.
“That’s a great run and we know how good Thierry Henry is but they have a lot of players there who are very good,” Impact captain Davy Arnaud said following practice Friday. “Kenny Cooper has been scoring a lot of goals and I think he’s back to what everybody knows he can be in the league, which is a big goal-scorer. They have a lot of good players, Henry not being the only one.”
Cooper has drawn even with Henry for the team lead in goals. The two Red Bulls are currently tied for second in league scoring behind only San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski, who leads the MLS with 11 tallies.
“Yeah, Kenny’s dangerous,” Impact coach Jesse Marsch said. “He can hit a ball. He’s made a lot of big plays for them this year, he’s scored a lot of goals, so I know Kenny a bit and we’ll be making sure that he doesn’t have an easy time.”
Get daily National news
Though New York is on a hot streak, Cooper is well aware that Montreal has picked up its game significantly since their first meeting. The Impact are 3-1-2 since losing at Real Salt Lake on April 4 in their next game after facing the Red Bulls.
“Although they’re an expansion team, they still have experienced players, very good players, and a coach with a lot of MLS experience,” Cooper said. “And I’ve seen games from their stadium and there just seems to be an incredible energy and passion from the stands, so I’m sure it’ll be a great occasion this weekend and I think that we’ll all look forward to playing in a great atmosphere.”
A Canadian professional soccer record crowd of 60,860 was on hand last Saturday for Montreal’s 1-1 draw against David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Impact, who drew 58,912 to their first MLS home game against the Chicago Fire on March 17, are 2-0-2 in league play at home entering their final game at the Big O.
Arnaud set the latter crowd roaring with delight when he scored Montreal’s first MLS goal in the 1-1 draw against Chicago. The veteran midfielder thought he knew a bit about the city’s appetite for soccer before the team ever took the field.
“You hear what it could be and what people think it will be but you’re never going to know until the day arrives,” Arnaud said. “But to get 60,000, close to it, our home opener and then do it again in the season for another regular season game, it’s very impressive to me and it shows how much this city enjoys the club and how much they support the game, which is great.”
The Impact are scheduled to begin play at the renovated and expanded Saputo Stadium on June 16.
Whereas the outdoor stadium that sits in the shadow of Olympic Stadium sports a grass pitch, the domed home of the 1976 Olympics does not. Set against the potential of yet another big crowd, Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe wants his players to set aside any misgivings about competing on an artificial surface.
“Those kind of numbers, particularly if it’s around 50 or 60,000, it’s phenomenal,” Backe said. “And you just need to just live with the turf, no excuses. It’s a little bit different but we have played some games on turf and you just have to take them on you.”
Arnaud and the Impact are looking forward to the opportunity to put together a full game this time against the Red Bulls. Montreal played a strong first half in their first meeting only to yield the tying goal on a penalty kick just before the half.
New York scored three times in the second half.
“We came out in the second half and our character wasn’t good enough,” Arnaud said. “When we gave up the early goal I think we kind of felt sorry for ourselves a little bit and were punished. We’ve grown as a team since then. Who we are hasn’t changed but what we’ve experienced together has changed and I think it’s made us better.”
Colombian Miguel Montano will make his first start for Montreal up front with Bernardo Corradi.
New York will have a slightly different look after U.S. national team defender Heath Pearce was acquired Thursday in a trade that sent forward Juan Agudelo to Chivas USA.
“I think they’re going to fly him in and throw him in the game,” Marsch said. “Heath’s a good, smart player _ I know him with my time with the national team _ and so he makes their team better. I’d be surprised if they don’t put him in.”
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.