IN SEARCH OF FIRST VICTORY
Impact struggling early in season
For supporters of the Montreal Impact, there is a definite sense of panic after the latest defeat to the L.A. Galaxy last weekend. However, justifiably so, the players aren’t panicking.
If teams around the league panicked at the start of every season, most would fire their coaches and get rid of half the players. Major League Soccer’s favourable playoff format allows teams that are not at their best for long stretches of the season to remain legitimate contenders once the post-season begins. The ultimate goal is to do just enough throughout the long season to qualify for the playoffs — because from there, the MLS Cup trophy is truly up for grabs. But there should be concerns. Despite being down a goal in the 15th minute, the Impact held their own in the first half against the Galaxy at the StubHub Centre last Friday night. But an unjust red card in the 44th minute to midfielder Marco Donadel took the wind from the sails of the visitors. The Impact managed to forge out a couple very good scoring opportunities in the second half through their trademark counter attacks, but Matteo Mancosu and company failed to produce the end product.
A second L.A. goal in the 74th minute, by Jermaine Jones, the player involved in the incident with Donadel, sealed the fate for the Impact and handed L.A. its first home win of the season.
Mauro Biello’s side is one of two teams still in search of their first win, and things did not get any easier after the L.A. game. Not only is Donadel suspended, but defender Hassoun Camara was forced off in the first half with concussion symptoms. Add that to the recent team-imposed suspension of defender Wandrille Lefèvre, and the back line’s depth continues to be tested.
Defenders Laurent Ciman and Ambroise Oyongo returned against L.A. after missing the previous game in Chicago with injury and fatigue, respectively, and Victor Cabrera is set to return from his one-game suspension in time to face Atlanta United FC on Saturday. So the back line is more or less intact, and if needed, Biello can turn to young defender Kyle Fisher, who was forced into his first league action of 2017 after Camara left the L.A. game in the 35th minute.
The Impact’s next opponent, Atlanta, is an expansion team, but not one that is displaying any form of newbie issues. Tied for third in the Eastern Conference with eight points, Atlanta haven’t lost in three away matches, posting a 1-0-2 record, including draws at Seattle and Toronto, two difficult stadiums in which to grab points.
Atlanta is well-built from back to front. Michael Parkhurst anchors the backline, with the experienced Jeff Larentowicz manning the midfield and coach Tata Martino has a slew of choices from which to select a front three. He can opt for size and strength with Kenwyne Jones, or flair and speed with Hector Villalba. Martino won’t have the suspended Yamil Asad to call on in attack, but Villalba is a handful on his own.
The Impact’s Ignacio Piatti, who missed the last two games with an injury, is a former teammate of Villalba at San Lorenzo.
Biello would love nothing more than for Piatti to regain fitness in time to outduel his countryman at the Saputo Stadium opener on Saturday.
The one constant for Biello is the trust instilled in winger Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla, 18. The youngster has appeared in four of the team’s five games and has one goal in 230 minutes of action. Tabla has shown a willingness to run at defenders, which is a necessity at that position, and is one of the reasons Biello wont shy away from playing him.
Another constant is the play of Patrice Bernier. The midfielder and captain, who is playing his final season as a professional, has arguably been the most consistent player since Biello took over as head coach. Other names that come to mind are Piatti and Oyongo, but Bernier has been an effective contributor even with age. Bernier’s four assists this season are tied for the league lead.
Saturday afternoon is expected to be summer-like in Montreal, a win would not only warm the soul, it would relieve some of the tension that accompanies a winless stretch of games.