Montreal Impact vs. Philadelphia Union | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Montreal Impact vs. Philadelphia Union
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 11
Stade Saputo — Montreal
May 12 - 3 pm ET
WATCH: CTV, TVAS, ESPN+

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Two Eastern Conference foes coming off midweek road defeats face off at Stade Saputo when the Montreal Impact host the Philadelphia Union Saturday afternoon.

The teams met three times a season ago, and the Impact won the final two, once at each ground – a 2-1 win on July 19 at Stade Saputo, and a 3-0 victory Aug. 12 at Talen Energy Stadium. The teams also reached a 3-3 draw April 22 in Chester.

The Impact win in the final meeting last year was just the second for the visiting team in the all-time series, after a 1-0 Union victory in 2015 at Stade Saputo. The Impact have won six of the eight meetings all-time at Stade Saputo. The Union have won two of the eight matchups in Chester, with five draws.

• Jim Curtin on Union's loss to Crew SC
• Real called up for international duty
• Remi Garde on Fernando Torres

Montreal Impact

Remi Garde made two changes to his starting XI from the side that defeated the New England Revolution, 4-2, on the weekend, with Rod Fanni returning from a thigh injury to start centrally in a four-man backline and Michael Petrasso replacing Chris Duvall at right back.

The Impact were one minute from securing their fourth road point of the season, but Kevin Ellisscored the late winner to lift the Chicago Fire to the 1-0 victory. It was the fifth loss in six games for Montreal (3-7-0), which fell to 1-6-0 away from home.

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Zakaria Diallo (ruptured Achilles tendon), D - Kyle Fisher (tibia), M - Marco Donadel (gluteal muscle injury), M - David Choiniere (ankle surgery); QUESTIONABLE: D - Rod Fanni (thigh)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Evan Bush — Michael Petrasso, Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz — Alejandro Silva, Samuel Piette, Saphir Taider — Raheem Edwards, Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Ignacio Piatti

• Notes: Anthony Jackson-Hamel is averaging a goal every 125.8 minutes since the start of last season, the fourth-best rate of any player with at least 20 appearances. … The Impact have lost five of their last six MLS matches (1W), conceding an average of 3.2 goals per game in this span.

Philadelphia Union

Jim Curtin made one change to his starting XI from the side that fell to Toronto FC, 3-0, last Friday, with Fabinho returning at left back after missing six matches following right meniscus surgery.

After a three-goal outburst in a win over D.C. United, Philadelphia (2-5-2) has been held goalless in consecutive losses. Curtin said now isn’t the time to assign individual blame for the team’s offensive struggles.

“It’s not one player at this time,” he said after the match. “It’s everyone. We all can do a better job. We can all stick together as tough as it is right now after a tough loss on the road. The good news is we have an opportunity to turn it around in two days against Montreal and get back on track.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Richie Marquez (sports hernia surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Jack Elliott, Auston Trusty, Fabinho — Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya — Ilsinho, Borek Dockal, David Accam — CJ Sapong

• Notes: David Accam enters this weekend with the third-most shots of any player without a goal this season (19). … The Union are in the midst of a 16-game road winless run in league play, the longest active streak in MLS. They have been shutout in 10 of those matches, including their last four.

All-Time Series

• Overall: Montreal Impact 7 wins, 30 goals … Philadelphia Union 3 wins, 19 goals … 6 ties
• At Montreal: Impact 6 wins, 18 goals … Union 1 win, 8 goals … 1 tie
• Last meeting at Montreal: Montreal Impact 2, Philadelphia Union 1 (July 19, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistant Referees: Brian Dunn, Jeremy Kieso
4th Official: Silviu Petrescu
VAR: Younes Marrakchi