Montreal Gazette

Patient Fisher seizes opportunit­y as starter

- PAT HICKEY phickey@postmedia.com Twitter.com/zababes1

The temperatur­e wasn’t the only thing heating up Wednesday as coach Mauro Biello ran the struggling Impact through a high-energy practice at Centre Nutrilait.

“It’s competitiv­e,” said centreback Kyle Fisher. “It’s getting chippy in training because we have to get back on track and we don’t have unlimited time.”

A 3-2 home loss to Columbus last Saturday left the Impact in last place in the MLS Eastern Conference and, while fellow defender Laurent Ciman insisted there was no panic, there is a sense of urgency heading into Saturday’s home game against the high-powered Portland Timbers (3 p.m., TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio).

The Timbers are in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 5-2-3 record, but they are only one point out of first place. Portland is tied with Houston for the most goals this season with 21. Fanendo Adi leads the way with six goals and two assists, while Diego Valeri has five goals and four assists.

The Impact has a 2-4-4 record and scored only 14 goals while allowing 17.

“We have to finish our chances when we get them and we have to work on our preventive coverage,” said Fisher. “When we’re pushing numbers forward, we have to have discipline. That’s the key word — discipline.”

Fisher has taken advantage of some injuries to work his way into the starting 11. The 22-year-old South Carolinian was the team’s first-round selection in the 2016 Super Draft after earning all-American honours at Clemson. He made two MLS starts last season while seeing extensive action with FC Montreal in the USL. He has appeared in five games this season and has started the past three games. He’s ready to go Saturday, although Biello will have some options because veteran Hassoun Camara is healthy. Midfielder Marco Donadel, who has missed the past two games, returned to practice Wednesday and might also be available.

“It’s been something I’ve been working toward for a while,” Fisher said of his elevated status. “It’s something you have to constantly conceptual­ize even if you’re not playing. You have to know when you get an opportunit­y, you have to make the most of it. I’m taking this opportunit­y and trying to run with it.

“I knew when I was drafted, I was almost ready and I just needed the opportunit­y,” added Fisher. “In this league, you have to take your time and have patience. The guys who stay persistent in training and work hard even when their names are not being called are the guys who stay in the league longer.”

Fisher said the key Saturday will be to concentrat­e for 90 minutes.

“They have a lot of good players and for those of us in the back, we have to tighten up, especially at home,” said Fisher. “We can’t expect to win games when we give up three goals. We have to have each other’s back; it comes down to trust.

“As a defender, it’s not always about the ball in the (box),” said Fisher. “When someone else has the ball on the other side of the field, you still have a responsibi­lity. If it’s the 90th minute, or the 70th minute or the last five minutes of the first half, those are times that you have to focus and be extra aware of what’s going on around you.”

The Impact has to avoid the letdown they suffered last weekend when Columbus scored the first goal and then sprinted to a 2-0 lead before Montreal launched a comeback that fell short.

“It was a shot in the knees,” said Fisher. “The fans were behind us and we worked so hard to come back. All it took was one break for them, they scored and they were in good shape after that.”

 ?? PAUL CHIASSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS ?? Impact defender Kyle Fisher, right, has taken advantage of injuries to work his way into the starting 11.
PAUL CHIASSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS Impact defender Kyle Fisher, right, has taken advantage of injuries to work his way into the starting 11.

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