FC Dallas will be hosting the red hot Montreal Impact on Saturday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
How The Season Has Gone So Far And The Injuries
The Impact is one of the three clubs that enter week three in Major League Soccer (MLS) that are still undefeated. The Canadians was able to beat down the New York Red Bulls 3-0 last Saturday at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Their record is (W-D-L) 2-0-0 and they currently sit on top of the Eastern Conference with six points and a positive four goal differential.
Dallas was given a rude awakening from rivals Houston Dynamo last Saturday. The Dynamo destroyed the Toros 5-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Even though the Hoops started the season with a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on March sixth, Houston showed that Dallas can be beaten. The Hoops are currently in eighth place of the Western Conference with a 1-0-1 and a negative three goal differentials.
Dallas enters this match healthy and ready to bounce back from their previous defeat. The Toros will be without Homegrown midfielder Alex Zendejas who has been ruled out with an osteitis pubis. Forward Coy Craft another home grown player is doubtful since he is still recovering from a meniscus surgery. Besides the two of them everyone else on the roster is good to go.
The Impact has a few more injuries as they head to the Lone Star State. Four players have been ruled out for this match. Andres Romero (Torn ACL), Cameron Porter (Hamstring), Patrice Bernier (Hamstring) and Maxime Crepeau (Concussion symptoms) will not be representing the Canadian club on the weekend. Veteran Italian striker Marco Donadel is questionable for this match with a leg injury.
Montreal Need To Keep On Pushing
However, their injury list has not affected the Impact this season. Players like Ignacio Piatti, Harry Ship, Dominic Oduro, Calum Mallace, Eric Alexander and Lucas Ontivero have pushed the Canadian club to two victories already. They will need to continue their dominance with the ball and attempt to score first in the match.
If the Impact takes the lead, then Dallas will be forced to chase after the game. In result that will leave Dallas vulnerable to counters from Oduro, Piatti or Ship. Plus Montreal might have Didier Drogba back for this game as he did travel with the team to Frisco. If he is able to play in this match his presences will cause more headaches for the shaky Dallas defense.
The Midfield Of Dallas Needs To Take Control
The Hoops on their end need to win the battle of the midfield. Take control of the ball and move it around the pitch quickly to create opportunities. Mauro Diaz, Fabián Castillo, Kellyn Acosta, Carlos Gruezo and Michael Barrios need to put aside the 5-0 debacle of last weekend. If the Toros want to have any chance of picking up a victory the midfield has to be functioning at full capacity against the Impact.
They need to push the back line of Montreal and force Impact goalkeeper Evan Busch to make a few stops in the game. Maximiliano Urruti has to be active and able to get off a few shots and convert his chances for the Hoops.
Regardless, of how many goals they score against Montreal the Toros defense and goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez have to put in a better performance than last Saturdays. Against the Dynamo they were exposed too many times and surrendered five goals in the process. If they fail to rebound on Saturday, then the Hoops will fall to a 1-0-2 record.