The Montreal Impact are nobody’s pushover, according to defender Jeb Brovsky.
The Impact were the hottest team in Major League Soccer at the start of the season, winning their first four games (including difficult contests in Seattle and Portland) to jump out to an early lead in the overall standings.
Wednesday programming alert: Watch the Montreal Impact vs. San Jose Earthquakes in CONCACAF Champions League action live on Sportsnet World. Coverage begins at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT. Watch Real Esteli FC vs. Sporting Kansas City live on Sportsnet World at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT. You can also watch both games live on Sportsnet World Online. | TV schedule
Lately, though, Montreal has fallen on hard times, stumbling to a five-game winless skid and registering just one win in their last seven matches. The Impact are still within reach of first place in MLS and stand poised to make the playoffs in only their second season. Still, many are questioning Montreal’s credentials after their recent poor form, especially after last weekend’s road loss to last-place D.C. United.
And now things will only get tougher for Montreal, as they begin group-stage play in the CONCACAF Champions League Wednesday night when they host the San Jose Earthquakes.
But Brovsky believes that the Impact has the depth and quality to compete simultaneously on two fronts, pushing for a playoff spot in MLS while playing in the Champions League. And he and his Impact teammates are eager to put their shocking loss to D.C. United behind them with a strong showing versus the Earthquakes.
“It’s almost fortunate that we’re playing an MLS squad in San Jose because we (view this) as a league game,” Brovsky told sportsnet.ca.
“We want to remain consistent like we were early on in the season, and to have San Jose come here, it’s a huge opportunity for us to get a win and build some momentum for Chicago.”
After Wednesday’s affair, the Impact will hop on a plane and head to the Windy City where they will play the Fire on Saturday. In total, Montreal will play six times during a 21-day period this month, balancing MLS and Champions League commitments.
It’s a gruelling schedule, but Brovsky is confident Montreal can cope.
“I think we definitely are deep enough to compete in all competitions,” Brovsky opined.
Watched both #IMFC and #Quakes train today before their #CCL match tomorrow. Lineup changes for both I reckon.
— Gerry Dobson (@SNGerryDobson) August 6, 2013
With so many games in a short period of time, coach Marco Schällibaum will likely rotate his squad, giving youngsters and players on the fringes of the first team some playing time – he has already tabbed backup goalkeeper Evan Bush as his starter against San Jose.
Another player who might see action is rookie forward Blake Smith, who came on as a late substitute and scored an injury-time winner in Montreal’s 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City two weeks ago.
“Smith has shown great stuff when’s come onto the pitch and made a great impact,” Brovsky said.
Wednesday could also mark the Impact debut of Argentine midfielder Hernan Bernardello, signed as the club’s second designated player on July 23. He travelled with the team to Washington on the weekend, but he did not play. Fellow newcomer Adrian Lopez, a Spanish defender who signed on July 26, is another option for Schällibaum.
Meanwhile, veteran central defenders Matteo Ferrari and Alessandro Nesta could be given the night off, which would mean Montreal sporting a new-look defence against San Jose.
“It’s always difficult when you’re shuffling a lot of guys through the back four. But all the defenders on this team know each other well,” Brovsky explained.
“So if (Karl) Ouimette or (Maxim) Tissot or (Wandrille) Lefèvre come in, they’re going to know what to expect and we’re going to expect a lot from them. They’re comfortable with the responsibility.”
Whoever will play in defence can expect a tough time of it against San Jose.
Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski has been MLS’s top scorer two of the last three campaigns, including last year when he scored a 27 goals. He leads San Jose with seven goals this season.
“They have a lot of weapons. They have some real bruisers up top with (Steven) Lenhart and (Alan) Gordon. They battle and you have to be up for it as a defender. Wondolowski is in great form right now and scoring goals again,” Brovsky said.
“They also have guys on the wings in (Shea) Salinas and (Marvin) Chavez) who can run by you.”
NOTES: The Impact travel to Guatemala to play C.D. Heredia on Aug. 21. Montreal then visits San Jose on Sept. 17 before hosting Heredia one week later to close out the group stage. Only the group winner advances to the quarter-finals… The Impact and Earthquakes played to a 2-2 draw in San Jose on May 4. Montreal beat the Earthquakes 3-1 in their only previous meeting at Stade Saputo last August.
