Impact look to get back on track at home against conference rival Union

Jul 22, 2016 | 11:10 AM

MONTREAL — The Montreal Impact have a chance to reverse a mediocre home record when the Philadelphia Union visit Saputo Stadium on Saturday.

While the Union (8-6-6) are in second place and the Impact (6-5-8) are fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference (with a game in hand), the time may be right to pick up much-needed points against a Philadelphia squad that is 1-5-3 away from home.

They will also look to rebound from a 3-1 loss at home last Sunday to New York City FC, the East’s best road team. Scoring leader Ignacio Piatti will be back from his one-game suspension.

“We’ve got a big game coming against Philly,” coach Mauro Biello said this week. “They’re ahead of us.

“They’re an eastern conference team and it’s an opportunity to bounce back and get this team heading back in the right direction, especially at home where we feel we’ve disappointed. Our focus is on hard work and getting the team back on track.”

The Impact’s home record is 4-2-3, but two wins came early in the season at Olympic Stadium. Outdoors at Saputo, they’re 2-2-3, which is not a disaster, but it’s not a home record for a team with championship aspirations.

The Union had a strong start to the season but are 2-3-1 in the last six games. They are also without midfielder Ilsinho, who was sent off for a second yellow card in a 2-2 home draw with the New York Red Bulls last weekend. On the plus side for Philadelphia, they erased a 2-0 New York lead and held on for the draw while playing the final 20 minutes down a man.

Philadelphia also used several of its regulars in a loss Wednesday in U.S. Open Cup play against New England.

The Impact controlled most of the play and wasted some excellent chances in the first half against NYC, only to find themselves down 2-0 when defenders Victor Cabrera and Ambroise Olyongo were each beaten one on one. Harry Shipp got one back in the second half with his second goal in three games.

“It’s about initiative and conviction and taking those moments to make things happen,” said Biello. “We shied away at times.

“You’re at home and you need to take the initiative on attack but at the same time you need urgency in how you defend. We can’t be casual.”

In their only previous meeting this season, the Impact drew 1-1 with the visiting Union on May 14 after Didier Drogba and C.J. Sapong traded goals in the opening 24 minutes.

It has been a busy week for the Impact, who have been sharing their training centre with Real Madrid while the Spanish powerhouse prepares for a tournament in the U.S.

There has also been player movement in the summer transfer window. They had already dealt forward Cameron Porter to Kansas City for defender Amadou Dia and added Italian striker Matteo Mancosu. And they made room for another deal when they acquired an international roster spot from Toronto FC in exchange for a 2017 second round draft pick.

On Friday, they shipped veteran midfielder Eric Alexander to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for targeted allocation money, clearing a roster spot for what is expected to be the return of Argentine Hernan Bernardello to Montreal to fill perhaps the team’s most glaring need — a defensive midfielder.

Bernardello, who is out of a contract, played in 2013 and 2014 for Montreal before accepting a deal with Mexican club Cruz Azul.

They also had interest in forward Marcelo Larrondo, who in the end opted to stay in Argentina.

Note: Impact defender Wandrille Lefevre will be out four-to-six weeks with a groin injury.

 

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press