A ticket to the postseason will be on the line for the New England Revolution (15-13-3, 48 points) when they face the Montreal Impact (6-18-7, 25 points) on Saturday at Stade Saputo. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
The Revolution, who have won seven of their last eight, currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference following a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew last weekend. For the second straight week, Jermaine Jones grabbed the game-winner, while goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth made six saves to seal the win.
Speaking of goalkeepers, Evan Bush made a couple of crucial saves to help last-place Montreal claim its first road result since June in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Chicago. Bush, who spent much of the first half as Troy Perkins’ understudy, collected eight saves in the scoreless draw, which eliminated the Fire from postseason contention.
Here’s what to watch for in a match that could send the Revolution to the playoffs for the second straight season:
Impact’s fearsome front four. Montreal’s attack, as a whole, has been a source of disappointment for coach Frank Klopas, no doubt. Injuries, national call-ups, and CONCACAF Champions League action have all conspired against Klopas, who’s forced to rearrange his lineup on a regular basis. But even though the offense has struggled, it isn’t due to lack of weapons. Marco Di Vaio and Jack McInerney have both burned the Revolution defense in the past, while Ignacio Piatti, Andres Romero, Dilly Duka and Justin Mapp all have the talent to create chances.
“They’ve got goal scorers that can beat you at any time in DiVaio or McInerney, depending upon who’s playing,” Revolution coach Jay Heaps said. “They’re dangerous there, and they have guys like Ramiro, Duka, plus a guy like Mapp coming back (from injury), and Piatti as well. They’re extremely dangerous across those 5-6 attacking positions.”
Expect the unexpected. Heaps admitted earlier this week that the biggest challenge his staff faces is putting together a game plan against the Impact, who have regularly featured a different lineup every week. While DiVaio, McInerney and Piatti are all known quantities, others have risen to the occasion in recent weeks. Midfielder Calum Mallace scored his first goal against the Revolution four weeks ago, while goalkeeper Evan Bush was sensational between the sticks last weekend. With strong performances coming from unlikely sources, the Revolution can’t afford to overlook the Impact’s lesser-known talent.
Avoiding another early deficit. It’s been a season of struggles for the Impact this year, and Klopas has made no bones about it. But when it comes to his club’s previous encounters with the Revolution, he can’t help but like what he’s seen. In both of their meetings this season, the Impact have grabbed the early lead after exploiting holes in the Revolution defense. On the first occasion, the Impact coasted to a 2-0 win, while the rematch saw a severely-depleted Montreal squad keep the Revolution on its heels despite dropping a 2-1 loss. To guard against another early deficit, especially on the road, the Revolution must be mindful of their marks, and plug the holes inside the attacking third.
“They’re an excellent team when they get you on the ropes,” Heaps said. “They’re a really good team and they’ve got some excellent players.”
Get ready for another gritty game. In their previous contest, the Impact didn't give the Revolution an inch, especially in the middle of the pitch. Mallace went toe-to-toe with Jermaine Jones, who was forced out of the game at halftime with a foot injury. Meanwhile, Krzysztof Krol didn’t let an initial caution stop him from issuing a harsh challenge to Kelyn Rowe, for which the Impact defender received a second yellow and subsequent ejection. It was a classic, late-season match that featured no fewer than 30 fouls between the conference foes. And with the last-place Impact playing for pride and paychecks, there’s little reason to believe that their final meeting with the Revolution won’t adopt a similar tenor.
Revs not looking ahead. For the first time in six years, the Revolution are in position to clinch a postseason berth before the final weekend of the regular season. Such scenarios could either be a blessing or curse, depending upon a team’s collective mindset. Some squads seize the opportunity, while others allow complacency to set in. The way midfielder Jermaine Jones sees it, the time is now, and the best way to approach Saturday’s potential clincher is to treat it as a must-win game.
“We have to play the same way we’ve played as always, have trust in each other, and keep going,” Jones said. “So I think we’ll be focused 100 percent on that game in Montreal. We know that we have the players, and that we have a good team and that we can win it.”
