Venue: Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
Time: 7:30 P.M. EST
Official: Dave Gantar
Projected Lineup for Columbus Crew (4-2-3-1)
Clark;
Francis -- Parkhurst -- Gonzalez -- Barson
Tchani -- Speas
Meram -- Paladini -- Finlay
Higuain
Projected Lineup for Montreal Impact (4-4-2)
Perkins;
Krol -- Pearce -- Ferrari -- Camara
Romero -- Martins -- Bernier -- Mapp
McInerney -- Di Vaio
Saturday night, the last place Montreal Impact travel to Columbus to take on the 7th place, Columbus Crew. Both teams looking to avenge their last match are pulling for the win.
This is the first of three meetings between these teams, two of which will be held in Columbus, and the other in Stade Saputo in Montreal. With both teams changing their squad since last year, this will be their first chance to get a feel of what the other team will throw at them on the field and try to pull off the win in the later fixtures.
The keys to victory for both teams are simple. For Columbus, they need to make use of the wings, and hustle back on defense when they give the ball up. In the previous match, most of the passes to the wings were successful. To utilize the wings properly, through balls will most likely do the trick. For Montreal, they need to capitalize on their counter attacks. Use it to its advantages, and you will succeed in scoring.
With the recent signing of Jack McInerney for Montreal, their offense has picked up. Jack McInerney currently has six goals and has been a huge part of that. Looking to add to his tally tomorrow night, look for him to get the ball when Montreal is on the break to either create a goal scoring opportunity, or to score a goal himself. On the home side, central forward Federico Higuain also has 6 goals on the season. As he plays in the middle, look for him to receive balls just outside the box where he can shoot on target from long range. Impact keeper Troy Perkins will most likely have a challenge on his hands with Higuain.
Suspended for this match is Crew midfielder Wil Trapp for picking up a red card in the previous match against Sporting Kansas City. The 21 year old Ohio native will miss this battle against Montreal. Their are no suspensions for the visiting Montreal Impact.
Prediction: As both teams will throw everything they have on the pitch tomorrow night, Montreal will look to shut down Higuain and company. Columbus on the other hand will look for a way to maneuver around the shaky back line of Montreal and score goals. In the end, this writer sees the score turning out this way:
Columbus 3-1 Montreal