2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 7
Montreal Impact vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Stade Saputo – Montreal
August 26 – 8:00 PM ET
TV: TSN 1/3, TVA Sports in Canada
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; TSN App, TVAS App in Canada
A month removed from a Round of 16 defeat in the MLS is Back Tournament, the Montreal Impact resume their season with a long-awaited home opener at Stade Saputo against the Vancouver Whitecaps Tuesday night.
While Thierry Henry's Impact haven't played in a month, the Whitecaps are coming off back-to-back defeats to Toronto FC at BMO Field and will be hungry to reverse course in Quebec.
The all-time series between the teams in Montreal is evenly split, with each team claiming a pair of wins. Thanks to a pair of goals two minutes apart late in the first half, the Impact celebrated a 2-1 win over Vancouver a year ago. It was then coach Wilmer Cabrera's first victory after taking over from Remi Garde.
Montreal Impact
It's still early days in the Henry era and the French legend is still tinkering with formations and lineups to figure out what is the best look for his club. He has tried four at the back systems in preseason, swapped to five at the back and has tried a handful of different combinations, both by way of personnel and formations, since February.
The Impact have been linked with Peru national team forward Jefferson Farfan, reportedly making an offer for the 35-year-old after after departing Lokomotiv Moscow. Young center back Luis Binks has been transferred to Bologna FC, though won't join the Italian Serie A club until 2021. In the meantime, Binks will remain on loan with Montreal until Dec. 31, 2020.
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: None
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution:None
- International duty: None
Vancouver Whitecaps
The performance was improved, but the result was the same for the Caps, who fell to Toronto FC, 1-0, Friday night at BMO Field. Marc dos Santos switched to a 5-3-2 formation, but still ceded 67.5 percent possession on the night and extended a goalless streak that is at 289 minutes, stretching three consecutive games.
Yordy Reyna was taken off the match-day roster after showing up late, reportedly not the first time the Peruvian was late for team activities.
“It was a one-off (suspension) today,” Dos Santos said. “He has to understand that we have rules inside the locker-room, and rules are important. But it’s not a big drama or soap opera; it was a situation that happened, and we just want to move forward. He knows what happened, he knows what we were not happy with, and at the end of the day, it’s rules. You have to think about the team all the time.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Janio Bikel(M) - left adductor strain
- OUT: Maxime Crépeau (GK) - fractured left thumb
- OUT: Érik Godoy (D) - left calf tightness
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Impact
- Impact: 2 wins, 5 goals
- Whitecaps: 2 wins, 7 goals
- 0 draws
Officials
- Referee: Drew Fischer
- Assistant Referees: Philippe Briere, Gianni Facchini
- 4th Official: Fabrizio Stasolla
- VAR: David Gantar
