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First Thoughts
Having conceded 7 goals in its last 2 matches, including a come from behind draw against rivals Toronto FC in the “401 Derby” (scoring 2 goals in the final 20 minutes to draw 3-3), the Montreal Impact looks to right the ship when they host lowly Chivas USA at Stade Saputo.
The Impact welcome back coach Marco Schällibaum to the touchline after serving a ban for stepping onto the pitch during an altercation against Colorado Rapids. Dropping vital points in recent matches puts sizable pressure on the club to secure 3 points against weaker opposition before a tough stretch of games against top conference foes in New York Red Bulls, Sporting KC and Chicago Fire, as well as a key inter-conference clash against FC Dallas.
Chivas USA are coming off a midweek 4th of July 0-0 draw against a Western Conference power in FC Dallas. It was the club’s first clean sheet of the season but Chivas still continues its winless streak to 12 games. Under new coach José Luis Real the squad have shown some signs of improvement, however a lack of a consistent goal threat or creative element within the squad makes the Rojiblancos a candidate for most active club in the MLS summer transfer window.
Keep Thinking
The main storyline coming out of the LA based club has been surrounding the acquisition of US Men’s National Team defender Carlos Bocanegra in a trade with Toronto FC, giving up a 2015 first-round pick and an international roster spot in exchange for the veteran defender. Unfortunately for the club he won’t be available for selection until the MLS summer transfer window opens on July 9th. The signing of Bocanegra looks to provide leadership and stability to a club that sorely lacks it.
Marco Schällibaum will look to this match as a golden opportunity to turn recent fortunes around. Surprisingly disappointing performances against middling clubs like Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC puts a spotlight squarely on a defensive unit that seemingly have lost their way and are being beat for both pace and positioning. The onus will be on goalkeeper Troy Perkins to ensure the organization and a compact shape that has been so successfully to this point. With a difficult MLS schedule to come, as well as the restart of CONCACAF Champions League, this is a match where anything but maximum points would be considered a failure.
Although Chivas are among the bottom dwelling sides in the league there are a few players of influence, namely rookie midfielder Carlos Alvarez, former Toronto FC player Eric Avila and defender Mario de Luna.
The 2nd overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft has developed into a vital player and has shown flashes of creativity and work rate in the middle of the park, as most positive attacks for the club either involve him directly or are connected to him in some way. As for Avila, he has arguably been the Goats best player and has just recently come from a loan spell with the “Mothership” in Guadalajara. It will make for an interesting test for the midfield partnership of Patrice Bernier and Davey Arnaud, as the Chivas duo have free reign to roam into pockets of space and it will be up to Bernier and Arnaud to show strong positional sense and be the main outlet to start counter attacks.
Montreal will have the advantage in the attacking positions and specifically through the potent partnership of Marco Di Vaio and Daniele Paponi. The Italian strike force have combined for 4 goals in as many games and will prove a difficult prospect for Chivas’ central defensive pairing of Mario de Luna and Walter Vilchez as well as goalkeeper and captain Dan Kennedy. Both De Luna and Kennedy are leaders within Chivas USA but going toe-to-toe with clinical finishers like Di Vaio and Paponi will be a true challenge.
In the End
Even though the Impact have dropped significant points in its last 2 matches this is a match that they’ll be considered firm favorites in what has shaped up to be an important match, not only to stop the bleeding at the back but also to stay top of the Eastern Conference.
Chivas USA is a club under immense transition and is missing creativity and scoring touch, so expect coach José Luis Real to force his team to build off its 0-0 draw midweek against FC Dallas and get men behind the ball against the Montreal Impact counter attack.
Prediction
Montreal Impact 3-0 Chivas USA
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