Suspensions leave Impact thin on defence against Orlando
Orlando City has been enough trouble for the Montreal Impact this season, but facing Brazilian star Kaka and his crew down three defenders will be a serious test.
The Impact learned Friday that defender Hassoun Camara has been suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount for a messy tackle on San Jose’s Alberto Quintero. Centreback Victor Cabrera will also sit out a game for picking up a fifth yellow card in the 3-1 win over the Earthquakes on Wednesday night, while fullback Donny Toia has an injury.
Coach Mauro Biello will need to piece together a back line when Montreal (10-10-11) plays in Orlando (7-10-14) on Sunday afternoon.
A likely combination would have Laurent Ciman and Wandrille Lefèvre in the middle with Ambroise Oyongo and rookie Kyle Fisher on the outside.
Camara had Quintero writhing in pain when he stomped on his ankle just outside the penalty area in the 80th minute. The French right back tweeted that he was disappointed to miss a game due to the “accidental” but late tackle on “my friend Quintero” but called the suspension fair punishment.
The Impact was on a high after its nervy win over San Jose, when it needed an Evan Bush save on Chris Wondolowski’s penalty kick in the 87th minute to prevent the Earthquakes from making it a 2-2 game. Johan Venegas scored his first of the season to make it 3-1 in added time.
Biello and the Impact were each fined undisclosed amounts for the players’ mass confrontation of the referee after the penalty call.
With three games left to play, the Impact can clinch a spot with a win in Orlando if both Columbus and New England do no better than draw this weekend.
Orlando hasn’t been good of late, allowing 12 goals in three straight defeats before a 0-0 draw in Toronto on Wednesday. But they have beaten Montreal in both of their meetings this season.
Since Orlando’s Camping World Stadium has artificial turf, it is unlikely that Didier Drogba will start. The 38-year-old started on the bench on Wednesday. Dominic Oduro also got a rare start and scored his first since May 7. Two called up to national teams: The Impact will lose Ciman and forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel next week as they join their national teams. Jackson-Hamel will join the Canadian senior team for the first time, for two friendly games in Marrakech, against Mauritania Oct. 7 and Morocco Oct. 11. Ciman will join Belgium for 2018 World Cup qualifying matches Oct. 7 in Brussels against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Oct. 10 in Portugal against Gibraltar.