17 games — the midway poin
17 games — the midway poin
MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact want to turn the page on the first half of their season. After 17 games — the midway point of Montreals third season in Major League Soccer — the Impact are dead last in the standings with a league-worst 3-9-5 record. The team will be looking to start anew when it takes on the Columbus Crew on the road on Saturday. "Its a brand-new season," said an optimistic Hassoun Camara. "We didnt do so well in the first part. We were expecting a lot better. We have to do everything to reverse the trend, and we have the players to do so. "Were technically sound, even more so than many teams in the league. What we need now is to meet those other teams intensity." Montreal is tied with the Chicago Fire for fewest wins on the season (3), and only the San Jose Earthquakes have scored fewer times than the Impact (17). The teams minus-12 goal differential is second worst in MLS behind only the Houston Dynamo. Despite their poor start to the season, the Impact are far from admitting defeat. "That wasnt an easy half of the year for us," said assistant coach Mauro Biello. "There are still a lot of games, and theres a lot of parity in this league. If we can string together a few good games, well be in a good position. We have to work hard, focus on the positive, and go from there." Though theyve picked up just 14 points from 17 games, Frank Klopas men are still only nine points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Playing in a league where streaking teams can quickly climb in the standings, the Impact are hoping a few positive results will finally get the ball rolling. "Were only halfway through the season," said striker Jack McInerney, whos scored six goals in 12 games for Montreal. "Weve played good soccer lately; we just havent gotten the results. There are still plenty of points on the table. Going forward, were going to have to do everything right." The Impact will start the second half of their season at Columbus Crew Stadium facing a side going through a lengthy rough patch of their own. After starting the season with three wins in a row, the Crew (4-7-8) have only won once in their last 16 MLS matches, and are winless in their last seven. Columbus, a club known this season for its successful passing and long spells of possession, is coming off a tough midweek loss against Kansas City. On Wednesday, a stoppage-time goal by Sportings Benny Feilhaber handed the Crew their second loss in a row. With Saturdays opponents on just two days rest, McInerney is calling the game against Columbus a perfect matchup for the Impact. "Theyre struggling also," he said. "Going in there, were really going to have to defend, play on the counter, and see what we can get on the break. Its a winnable game, so we have to go into it looking for the three points." Like the Crew, Montreal wants to move on from a heartbreaking loss against Kansas City. Last Saturday, a defensive mistake gifted all three points to Sporting when defender Heath Pearce and goalie Troy Perkins got their wires crossed and failed to clear a harmless ball away from the penalty box in the 89th minute. The week before, the Impact conceded a stoppage-time goal to Chivas USA for its first loss since returning from the World Cup break. The Impact had not dropped back-to-back contests since losing its first three to start the season. On Saturday, Montreal will look to take advantage of a depleted Columbus lineup that lost two of its players to injury in the last couple of weeks. Crew forward Jairo Arrieta left a July 12 game against the New York Red Bulls with a left hamstring strain, and has not played since. Hector Jimenez, an offensive-minded midfielder for Columbus, sprained his knee on July 4. Both have been ruled out for the game versus Montreal. Arrietas and Jimenezs absence will make things easier for an Impact backline that has been showing signs of improvement lately, despite consecutive losses. Montreal has conceded just three times in four games, and has recorded four clean sheets in its last seven in all competitions. "Were on the right track," said Biello, whose team is the only one in MLS without a road win this season (0-5-3). "Look at our last few games, the team is playing better. If we can do that on the road, along with the quality we have up front, we can get a result. A few draws and victories on the road will give us a good chance to make the playoffs." That will depend largely on the Impacts offence, which has been stale all season. Montreal has scored more than two goals just once this year — a 3-0 victory against Houston at the end of June. Goals have been especially hard to come by away from home, where the Impact have scored just five times in eight games. McInerney says Montreal has to start getting more players forward. "Weve put in a lot of work defending, because we had some struggles keeping the ball out of the net," said the 21-year-old. "But too many people are sitting back now. We have to get numbers in the box; its the only way were going to create opportunities for the team and create chances." The Impact and Crew will play each other twice more after Saturdays contest — on Aug. 30 in Montreal, and on Sept. 27 in Columbus. Notes: Marco Di Vaio, who has found the back of the net twice in his last three games, has three career tallies versus Columbus. The Italian striker celebrated his 38th birthday on Tuesday. … The Crews last MLS win came on May 24 versus the Chicago Fire. … On Tuesday, defender Adrian Lopez suffered a second ACL tear in his right knee. Lopez, who played just 44 minutes with the Impact since being acquired last July, will be out for the rest of the season. … After missing two games due to a groin injury, Justin Mapp now has two assists in his last three games. Wholesale Nike Shoes .com) - The Buffalo Bills will return to the friendly confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday when they welcome the upstart Cleveland Browns to town. Cheap Shoes Free Shipping . This has become the Raptors mantra as they embark on a new era with a new regime and, in the not-so-distant future, a new image. http://www.wholesaleshoesoutlet.com/. 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Wholesale Shoes For Sale .Balotelli uploaded on Instagram a picture of the video-game character Super Mario, with whom the Italy international shares a nickname, with text around the image including jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew. Wholesale Shoes USA . "Im proud, obviously. Its been a long day, but now Im a Crystal Palace player, Im very happy," Bannan said. "The seasons been started now for a couple of weeks and Ive not featured at Villa.On Thursday night, the CFL will hand out their annual awards where Toronto Argonauts QB Ricky Ray goes up against Calgary Stampeders RB Jon Cornish for the leagues Most Outstanding Player. It stops there for them, as neither man will play on Sunday for the leagues biggest prize, the 101st Grey Cup. In that title game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders, one player will stand out and be rewarded as the games Most Valuable Player. Which player will be honoured for leading his team to victory? Only one active player in this years contest has previously won the award, QB Henry Burris earned it in 2008 with the Calgary Stampeders at the 96th Grey Cup. Burris won the award in a similar circumstance to the one he will be in on Sunday, facing a team that was playing for the championship before their home crowd when his Stampeders beat the Montreal Alouettes. Could the leagues leading passer, making his triumphant return to Saskatchewan where he started his CFL career, earn his second Grey Cup MVP award? Will it be the opposing QB, Darian Durant, aiming for his first championship in three tries, this time flanked with the support of an entire province. Can he continue his hot postseason pace and have a strong performance? How about one of Durants targets? None have accomplished more in a career than the illustrious WR Geroy Simon, a two-time Grey Cup winning receiver.dddddddddddd Could this be the one award that completes his legendary resume? Will it be Durants favourite weapon, WR Chris Getzlaf? Outside of a seven-yard touchdown pass, the receiver was fairly limited against the Stampeders in the Western Division Finals. Could he breakout in front of Rider Nation? On the other sideline, Ticats receiver WR Andy Fantuz, who wore Rider green for six seasons before bolting to the Steel City as a free agent in 2012, could catch fire in his former stadium. However, with this years game being played in wintery conditions with an expected low temperature of minus-12 C combined with winds at 15 kilometres per hour, could the two teams offensive plans be left in the hands of the running game? Will the weather permit Riders RB Kory Sheets, who has rushed for a combined 245 yards in the two playoff games heading into Sunday, to be the x-factor for his team? What about Ticats RB C.J. Gable? Can the dual-threat California native brave the cold and cap off his first CFL season in MVP fashion? How about somebody unexpected? With snow and cold weather, anything can happen on the football field. With all these players motivated to win the Grey Cup on Sunday, who will be the most valuable to their team? As always, its Your! Call. ' ' '