The Basics
Houston Dynamo at Montreal Impact
Saturday, June 2, 2018, 6:30 p.m. CT
Stade Saputo, Montreal, QuebecICKETS
Broadcast Information
KUBE 57 – 6:00 p.m. (CHANNEL LISTINGS)
ESPN+ – 6:30 p.m.
610 AM – 6:00 p.m.
Univision Radio 1010 AM – 6:00 p.m.
Preview
After having their four-match unbeaten streak snapped on Wednesday following a 2-1 defeat to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium, the Houston Dynamo head to Stade Saputo for their fourth road contest in their last five games to face a Montreal Impact team that have lost their last four games, including a 2-0 defeat at Minnesota last Saturday.
Montreal have won five straight home games against Houston, holding them scoreless in the last four games they have played in Montreal, per Opta.
Montreal Impact
Remi Garde made three changes to his preferred 4-1-4-1 formation from the side that lost 1-0 to the 10-man LA Galaxy on May 21, with Daniel Lovitz returning from a red-card suspension to start at left back, Rod Fanni partnering with Jukka Raitala centrally in defense and Matteo Mancosu started as the lone striker, moving Ignacio Piatti to the wing and Alejandro Silva centrally in the midfield.
However, those changes could not produce a goal as Montreal (3-10-0) were shut out for the fourth consecutive game, a dubious streak that spans 382 minutes. Christian Ramirez and Miguel Ibarra struck for a pair of goals six minutes apart early in the second half to lift the Loons to a 2-0 victory.
“We were not efficient with our assist in the first half. We had opportunities, but mistakes were costly,” goalkeeper Evan Bush said after the match. “Defensively, we have not been bad, but you must be perfect when you do not score.”
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: M - Samuel Piette
- International duty: None
- Injury Report: OUT: D - Zakaria Diallo (ruptured Achilles tendon), D - Kyle Fisher (tibia injury), D - Victor Cabrera (calf injury), M - David Choiniere (ankle surgery)
Projected Starting XI
(4-1-4-1, right to left)
GK: Evan Bush — Daniel Lovitz, Jukka Raitala, Rod Fanni, Chris Duvall — Samuel Piette — Ignacio Piatti, Saphir Taider, Alejandro Silva, Raheem Edwards — Matteo Mancosu
- Notes: Piatti (51) is one of three players with at least 50 dribbles completed this season (Alphonso Davies – 58, Miguel Almirón – 56). … Montreal has won just four MLS games since Aug. 22, 2017, the fewest of any team (19L). They have allowed 2.1 goals per game over the stretch.
Houston Dynamo
After defeating NYCFC, 3-1, on Friday night at BBVA Compass Stadium, Wilmer Cabrera made two changes to his backline Wednesday night in Sandy, with Adam Lundqvist making his first MLS appearance at right back and Jared Watts made his Dynamo debut, replacing the suspended Alejandro Fuenmayor centrally.
Alberth Elis scored for the third consecutive game, latching onto a Romell Quioto cross and heading in the 75th-minute equalizer after Luis Silva put RSL ahead in similar fashion in the 34th minute.
However, Houston (5-4-3) conceded late again with Kyle Beckerman coming off the bench to net the decisive goal in the 82nd minute as the Dynamo fell to 1-2-3 away from home.
“We continue creating options, but we receive two goals away,” Cabrera said after the game. “Last game, every game that we play away we receive two goals. It’s still not good enough from our defensive side. As a team, we’re not defending very well and that’s something that we have to continue pushing.”
- Suspended: D - Alejandro Fuenmayor
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: D - Adolfo Machado
- Injury Report: OUT: D - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL), D - Philippe Senderos (right hamstring injury), D - George Malki (left knee sprain), D - Dylan Remick (concussion), M - Darwin Ceren (right knee), D - Jared Watts (concussion), M - Juan David Cabezas (left quadriceps)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Joe Willis — Adam Lundkvist, Kevin Garcia, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley — Eric Alexander, Boniek Garcia — Alberth Elis, Tomas Martinez, Romell Quioto — Mauro Manotas
Notes: Houston has scored three goals from free kicks this season (one from a direct free kick), the most of any team. … Houston’s 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night snapped a four-game unbeaten streak (3W-1D). Houston has now conceded in 11 straight games, one short of the franchise record of 12 (done twice, most recently from April 19–July 4, 2015).
All-Time Series
- Overall: Montreal Impact 5 wins, 19 goals … Houston Dynamo 6 wins, 17 goals … 1 tie
- At Montreal: Impact 5 wins, 15 goals … Dynamo 0 wins, 2 goals … 0 ties
- Last meeting at Montreal: Montreal Impact 1, Houston Dynamo 0 (Aug. 6, 2016)
Officials
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referees: Jason White, Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho
4th Official: Silviu Petrescu
VAR: Geoff Gamble
