Two clubs in opposite conferences of MLS will do battle today in a league match between the Montreal Impact and Portland Timbers. The first-division clash scheduled for 8 p.m. ET will be held at Saputo Stadium in Montreal and can be live streamed here.
Poor form has plagued the Montreal Impact in recent weeks. Four consecutive losses have kept the club in the cellar of the Eastern Conference with 19 points. Now, a stiff test in the form of the Portland Timbers awaits Montreal. Head coach Frank Klopas is well aware of what to expect.
"It's a good team," Klopas said of Portland (via Olivier Trembla on MLS's official website). "Their middle is obviously a strong point, but I think, with our midfield, we have quality players, and I think we just have to not force the ball at times and give ourselves some rhythm in the game."
Captain Patrice Bernier added: "Once we get the ball from them, we have to find the spaces quickly going into transition, counterattack."
A strong counter will push Portland's suspect back line to the limit. Anything less will result in the Impact's fifth consecutive loss.
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: The first line of defense for the Portland Timbers is defensive midfielder Diego Chara. The 28-year-old enters today averaging 5.3 tackles and two interceptions per match..
Montreal Impact's Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Perkins; Oulmette, Lefevre, Pearce, Camara; Romero, Bernier, Bernardello, Mapp; Vaio, McInerney
Portland Timbers' Projected Lineup (4-3-3): Ricketts; Harrington, Kah, Paparatto, Jewsbury; Johnson, Chara, Valeri; Zakuani, Adi, Nagbe
Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (via WhoScored).
Standings
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
Sporting Kansas City |
21 |
11 |
5 |
5 |
31 |
19 |
12 |
38 |
|||
|
2 |
DC United |
19 |
10 |
4 |
5 |
29 |
20 |
9 |
34 |
|||
|
3 |
Toronto FC |
18 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
27 |
25 |
2 |
26 |
|||
|
4 |
Columbus Crew |
21 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
25 |
27 |
-2 |
26 |
|||
|
5 |
New York Red Bulls |
20 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
32 |
31 |
1 |
24 |
|||
|
6 |
Philadelphia Union |
21 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
33 |
35 |
-2 |
23 |
|||
|
7 |
New England Revolution |
20 |
7 |
2 |
11 |
25 |
33 |
-8 |
23 |
|||
|
8 |
Chicago Fire |
19 |
3 |
11 |
5 |
27 |
33 |
-6 |
20 |
|||
|
9 |
Houston Dynamo |
20 |
5 |
4 |
11 |
22 |
40 |
-18 |
19 |
|||
|
10 |
Impact Montreal |
19 |
3 |
5 |
11 |
19 |
34 |
-15 |
14 |
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
Seattle Sounders |
18 |
12 |
2 |
4 |
35 |
24 |
11 |
38 |
|||
|
2 |
Real Salt Lake |
20 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
31 |
26 |
5 |
32 |
|||
|
3 |
Colorado Rapids |
20 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
31 |
24 |
7 |
30 |
|||
|
4 |
FC Dallas |
20 |
8 |
5 |
7 |
32 |
29 |
3 |
29 |
|||
|
5 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
19 |
6 |
9 |
4 |
29 |
27 |
2 |
27 |
|||
|
6 |
LA Galaxy |
17 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
26 |
16 |
10 |
27 |
|||
|
7 |
Portland Timbers |
20 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
32 |
33 |
-1 |
24 |
|||
|
8 |
Chivas USA |
20 |
6 |
5 |
9 |
21 |
33 |
-12 |
23 |
|||
|
9 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
18 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
22 |
20 |
2 |
20 |
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