Impact look for first away win over Red Bulls with Drogba back in lineup

MONTREAL — If the Montreal Impact are ever going to win an away match against the New York Red Bulls, now may be the time.

The Impact are 0-5-0 in Harrison, N.J., since they joined Major League Soccer in 2012 and have been outscored 17-6, but there will be three things on their side when they visit on Saturday night.

— Red Bulls fiery coach Jesse Marsch, who was Montreal’s bench boss in 2012, is suspended after being ejected in a 2-2 draw in Los Angeles last week for protesting some blatant non-calls against the Galaxy.

— New York is hurting on defence. The Red Bulls learned this week that Connor Lade is gone for the season with a torn right ACL, while Damien Perrinelle is out four to six weeks with an ankle injury. Gideon Baah and midfielder Dax McCarty were already gone with shin problems.

— Montreal will have star striker Didier Drogba back from a one-game suspension.

Stay Ahead of the Curve with Kamloops' Trusted Property Manager - Rohit Kumar

May 20, 2025

Two and Out

PETERS: Mayor's accountability push is more than a little rich

13m ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: June 19, 2025

23h ago

“We’re motivated every time we play the Red Bulls,” Impact coach Mauro Biello said this week. “Last year they won the Supporters Shield (first place overall) and now they’re right with us in the standings.

“We’ll try to get the maximum points.”

The Impact (8-5-9) and the Red Bulls (9-9-6) are tied for third spot in the Eastern Conference with 33 points apiece but Montreal has two games in hand.

New York is unbeaten in six games and is coming off a pair of draws on the road while Montreal hasn’t lost in three games, winning 1-0 over Houston in their last outing.

It remains to be seen if Biello will pair Drogba with newcomer Matteo Mancosu in a two-man front. Mancosu has two goals in only 142 minutes of play over four games since being loaned from Bologna FC a month ago. Biello played down working them together in practice this week, saying only that it gives them an extra option should they ever need it.

What they won’t have is second game with captain Patrice Bernier playing in the centre ahead of the defensive midfield pairing of Marco Donadel and newcomer Hernan Bernardello, as Bernier will be sidelined for up to three weeks with a fractured bone in a foot.

Whatever the formation, they will be up against a New York side that likes to pour on the pressure.

“They’re a pressing team so they’ll try to not let us play out of the back,” said forward Michael Salazar. “We’ll have guys up the field so hopefully they don’t get us off balance.

“They’re a great team. I don’t expect it to be easy at all, especially in their house. We know what they’re going to do. We need to understand that sometimes it’s OK to get the ball up the field instead of playing out the back because we know they’re coming for us.”

Montreal beat the Red Bulls 3-0 at Olympic Stadium in March, with Ignacio Piatti and Dominic Oduro both scoring on counterattacks. 

“It will take maximum concentration,” said defender Hassoun Camara. “We’ll be facing a good team that will be frustrated from their match in Los Angeles, so we have to concentrate on what we’re doing.”

The Red Bulls are 8-2-1 at home this season while Montreal is 2-3-6 away. The Impact have draws in their last four road games, but haven’t won away since a 2-1 decision over the lowly Chicago Fire on April 16.

Biello is especially pleased with how his team has tightened up defensively since a 3-1 loss at home to New York City on July 17. Since then, they’re allowed two goals in three games including a long-awaited clean sheet last week.

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press