Ever since getting shellacked by D.C. United at Audi Field last September in a match rife with playoff implications, the Montreal Impact have been waiting for a chance to make amends.
Tuesday night, they'll get it.
Although Montreal and D.C. both enter their midweek tilt (8 pm ET | TVAS in Canada, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US) minus some star power, the Impact are going to settle a major score in their return to Washington, said midfielder Micheal Azira.
"We want payback and everyone is already switched on for that," Azira said. "It'll be good to get three points there."
Had they earned the three points last year (and taken three from D.C.), the Impact would've finished one point ahead of United in the Eastern Conference standings. Instead, D.C. romped to a 5-0 win and continued their late-season surge, finishing fourth and earning the right to host a Knockout Round match. Montreal missed out on the postseason entirely.
Although Montreal will be without Ignacio Piatti (knee injury) and Maxi Urruti (red card suspension), they'll visit Audi Field while D.C. star Wayne Rooney serves his own red card suspension. That doesn't mean United won't also be up for it, however, especially following an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to LAFC at home on the weekend.
"We have to come out with more intensity," said D.C. midfielder Russell Canouse. "It was tough for a lot of guys. It still hurts ... We want to make it right. It's always nice to have a second chance."
That was D.C.'s first loss of the campaign. Meanwhile, the Impact have already earned seven points with one match remaining in a six-game road trip to begin the season. They rebounded from an embarrassing 7-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City in Week 5 with a gritty 0-0 draw at New York City FC last Saturday.
"f we can get something out of this D.C. game on Tuesday, it's been a successful trip," said Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush. "That was kind of the point all along to keep our heads above water until we get home games."
