2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 19
Montreal Impact vs. Inter Miami CF
Red Bull Arena – Harrison
October 17 – 7:00 PM ET
TV: TSN 1/4, TVA Sports
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US
LOCAL TV: CBS4 (Miami)
After back-to-back defeats, the Montreal Impact look to rebound when they take on an Inter Miami CF squad unbeaten in their last three games when the Eastern Conference squads square off Saturday night at Red Bull Arena.
The Impact (6W-10L-2D) are coming off a 3-2 loss to the New England Revolution Wednesday at Red Bull Arena, while Inter Miami CF (5W-10L-3D) played Atlanta United to a 1-1 home draw.
This is the fourth meeting between the Eastern Conference foes this season, with New England coming off a 3-1 victory at Gillette Stadium Sept. 23 after a 1-0 win at the MLS is Back Tournament. The Impact opened the regular season with a 2-1 win at Stade Olympique Feb.29.
Montreal Impact
The Impact conceded twice inside the opening 20 minutes and suffered a second consecutive defeat, falling to the Revs 3-2. Adding injury to insult, veteran defender Rod Fanni was stretchered off late and Luis Binks received a yellow card that will force him to miss this match due to suspension. Homegrown goalkeeper James Pantemis made his MLS debut with Clement Diop returning to France for personal reasons. Earlier in the day, the Impact announced the transfer of Saphir Taider to Saudi Arabian club Al Ain.
“It’s really hard to be positive tonight," Thierry Henry said. "Some nights I try to find the positives, but tonight it’s really hard. We lost [Rod Fanni], [Saphir Taider] is leaving, [Clement Diop] isn’t there. We find ourselves down two goals again and trying to catch up which makes us spend more energy. So it’s hard.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Steeven Saba (M) - left foot injury
- OUT: Mathieu Choinière (M) - ankle injury
- OUT: Orji Okwonkwo (F) - hamstring injury
- OUT: Anthony Jackson-Hamel (F) - knee injury
- OUT: Emanuel Maciel (M) - sports hernia
- OUT: Clement Diop (GK) - personal reasons
- Suspended: Luis Binks (D)
- Suspended after next caution: Samuel Piette (M)
- International duty: None
Inter Miami CF
An unbeaten streak stretched to three matches, but it felt more like two points lost for Inter Miami in a 1-1 draw against Atlanta United Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale. Brek Shea broke the scoreless stalemate in the 80th minute, but Atlanta's equalizer came just three minutes later. A win would have moved the expansion side above the playoff line in the East.
“The frustration is logical at not being able to win when you clearly deserve it,” Diego Alonso said afterward. “But what you have to do is hold your head high, trust in the players, believe and surely soccer will pay us back in an upcoming game. There will be some games we don’t deserve to win and we’ll take the points because soccer can’t be so unjust to a team that’s been playing like this team has been playing.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: George Acosta (M) - left knee injury
- OUT: David Norman Jr (M) - left ankle injury
- OUT: Denso Ulysse (D) - left lower leg injury
- OUT: Andrés Reyes (D) - facial injury
- OUT: Luis Robles (GK) - fractured left arm
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Nicolas Figal (D), Andres Reyes (D), Julian Carranza (F), Wil Trapp (M)
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Impact
- This is the first all-time meeting between the Montreal Impact and Inter Miami CF
Officials
- Referee: Timothy Ford
- Assistant Referees: Kyle Atkins, Adam Wienckowski
- 4th Official: Luis Arroyo
- VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
