Union face another must-win
The Union have nine regular-season Major League Soccer games remaining, but if they harbor any realistic playoff hopes, an upset win on Saturday in Montreal against the Impact is almost mandatory.
The Union have nine regular-season Major League Soccer games remaining, but if they harbor any realistic playoff hopes, an upset win on Saturday in Montreal against the Impact is almost mandatory.
Montreal (8-9-4) sits in the sixth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot with 28 points. The Union (6-13-6) are four behind with 24, but Montreal holds four games in hand.
Taking it a step further, fifth-place Toronto has 31 points but also two games in hand on the Union. Even a tie will do little for the Union.
"One point doesn't really do you any good at this stage," coach Jim Curtin said. "We have to push in the right way, and if the game is tied late we can't be conservative and just happy with the one point."
Making the Union's job even more difficult, this is expected to be the debut of 37-year-old forward Didier Drogba, who last played in May for Chelsea of the English Premier League. He is also the all-time leading scorer for the Ivory Coast national team with 65 goals.
Drogba's presence has made the game a sellout.
One Union player who has competed against Drogba is midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta. Twice as a member of Schalke 04 of the German Bundesliga, he played against Drogba during Champions League competition.
"He is still very dangerous, especially in the box with his strong body," Barnetta said after practice Thursday. ". . . So we have to focus on him, but not only him."
Curtin called Montreal midfielder Ignacio Piatti "one of the top guys in the league." Piatti leads Montreal in goals (8) and assists (4).
Laurent Ciman, whom Curtin calls "the top center back in the league," wasn't expected to play, but he will be available.
The Union will still be without their best defender, Maurice Edu, who will miss his second game with a groin injury. Keeper Brian Sylvestre is also expected to be out with a hand injury.
Curtin said Andre Blake, who has yet to play this year, is a possibility in goal. It will either be Blake or John McCarthy, who started the last three MLS games in Sylvestre's absence.
Notes. Curtin said that defender Fabinho has received his green card, which means the Union are at their maximum seven international players. . . . The Union confirmed that disgruntled keeper Rais Mbolhi is on trial with Bolton, a second-division team in England. . . . This is the second game this year between the Union and Montreal. They played to a 2-2 draw on June 27 at PPL Park.
MLS: Union at Impact
8 p.m. Saturday at Stade Saputo, Montreal
TV: Comcast Network
Records: Union (6-13-6, 24 points); Impact (8-9-4, 28 points). Union on the road: 1-8-3. Impact at home: 6-3-2.
Goals: Union, 32; Impact, 29.
Goals against: Union, 43; Impact, 31.
Last MLS game: The Union played the visiting Chicago Fire to a 3-3 draw on Sunday. Montreal lost to visiting D.C. United, 1-0, on Aug. 8.
Outlook: The game is a sellout in anticipation of the Montreal debut of forward Didier Drogba. . . . According to a team official, three players who are definitely out for Montreal are defender Hassoun Camara (thigh injury) and forwards Cameron Porter and Kenny Cooper, both recovering from knee surgery. . . . Union center back Maurice Edu (groin) is out for the second straight game. . . . Keeper Brian Sylvestre (hand) is almost certainly out, and midfielder Andrew Wenger (concussion) won't play. . . . The Union have allowed just one goal in the first 15 minutes, but have struggled late in games. . . . C.J. Sapong has a team-high seven goals, but he has scored just one goal in his last seven MLS games. . . . Midfielder Cristian Maidana leads MLS with 14 assists. - Marc Narducci
EndText
