Impact-Earthquakes Preview

By foxsports
Published

The Montreal Impact ended August with a season-high losing streak but have picked up some needed points over their first two games this month in contrasting ways.

In a matchup of two teams fighting for playoff spots, the Impact will try to gain three more points Wednesday night against a San Jose Earthquakes team that's sputtering a bit after last month's stellar finish.

Montreal (9-11-5) has gained four points this month to remain in playoff position after losing three straight to finish off August. The Impact began a two-game California set Saturday with a scoreless draw against the league's highest-scoring club, Los Angeles.

"I'm very proud of the way we played against one of the best teams in the league," coach Mauro Biello said. "We were able to contain them for most of the game and we created chances. I'm happy with the effort that we put in. We managed the momentum tonight, and we're happy with the result."

Montreal opened this month with a 4-3 comeback win over Chicago with Didier Drogba scoring his first three MLS goals in his second appearance. It matched the club's highest-scoring game of the season.

Those results have helped the Impact stay in the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They have the same number of points as seventh-place Orlando City but have one more win.

San Jose (11-11-6) is two points behind sixth-place Portland and fifth-place Sporting Kansas City in the West after opening this month 0-1-1.

The Earthquakes began September with a 2-1 loss to Philadelphia on the 5th, which ended a season-best string of four straight wins and four consecutive shutouts. They followed with a 1-all draw against Seattle on Saturday in the third of four straight home games.

Fatai Alashe put San Jose ahead in the 70th minute, but the Earthquakes gave up the tying goal in the 82nd.

"Wednesday is a very important game," coach Dominic Kinnear said. "We are in the mix for the playoffs. … Winning this game would have put us in a great spot, and a tie is not the result that we would desire. A win on Wednesday puts us in good spot."

Montreal beat San Jose 2-0 on Sept. 20 to improve to 2-0-1 in MLS meetings.

Montreal won't have defender Laurent Ciman as he's wrapped up a suspension. He received a red card and his fifth yellow card of the season in a 2-1 loss to Toronto FC on Aug. 29.