New England Revolution vs. Montreal Impact | 2016 MLS Match Preview

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. MONTREAL IMPACT
Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Massachusetts
Sunday, Oct. 23 | Week #34 | MLS Game #331
4 pm ET (MLS LIVE, CSN-NE in the US, TVA Sports in Canada)

A critical encounter in the makeup of the Eastern Conference playoff scenario is ahead when the New England Revolution entertain the Montreal Impact on Decision Day at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution come into the game knowing they must defeat the Impact, have Philadelphia Union lose to New York Red Bulls -- and overturn a 12-goal difference -- if they are to reach the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. For the Impact, it's all to play for in terms of whether they will host a Knockout Round match next week, or be forced to the road -- they can secure a game at Stade Saputo only if they get a result and also get some help, coming off a 2-2 home draw with Toronto FC last weekend.

PLAYOFF SCENARIOS: Montreal have clinched a playoff spot; New England will clinch if New England win vs. Montreal AND Philadelphia Union lose vs. NY Red Bulls AND margin of New England victory plus margin of Philadelphia defeat is 13 goals or greater

• The Revolution suffered their second consecutive loss on their travels, concluding their road matches for the 2016 regular season with a 2-1 loss at the Chicago Fire on Sunday afternoon.
• The Impact clinched a playoff spot in extending their undefeated run to three games, reaching a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on Sunday afternoon at Stade Saputo. Ignacio Piatti scored a pair of goals, his third multiple-goal game this season, now giving him 17 goals for the season, third place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season, having split the first two, both contests at Stade Saputo. On July 2, Michael Salazar scored twice and Ignacio Piatti added the third in a three-goal blitz over 14 minutes in a 3-2 Impact win. Kelyn Rowe scored twice and added an assist, and Kei Kamara scored a goal and had an assist in a 3-1 Revolution win Sept. 17.
• The Revolution win in the last meeting snapped a five-game undefeated streak for the Impact in the all-time series, also ending a three-game Montréal winning run. The last Revolution win in the series had come Sept. 13, 2014.
• The Impact won the final meeting between the teams last Oct. 17 at Gillette Stadium, their third win in five visits to New England all-time. The Impact have won three of the last five meetings in Montréal, with one draw.

REFEREE: Hilario Grajeda. AR1 (bench): C.J. Morgante; AR2 (opposite): Claudiu Badea; 4th: Ted Unkel
MLS Career: 137 games; FC/gm: 24.1; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 24; pens: 24

SUSPENDED: NE: Brad Knighton (through Oct. 23)
WARNINGS:
FINED NEXT YELLOW CARD: NE: Scott Caldwell, London Woodberry -- MTL: Hassoun Camara, Didier Drogba, Lucas Ontivero, Marco Donadel
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (13 meetings): Revolution 4 wins, 14 goals -- Impact 7 wins, 20 goals -- Ties 2
AT NEW ENGLAND (5 meetings): Revolution 1 win, 4 goals -- Impact 3 wins, 7 goals -- Ties 1

2016 (MLS):
7/2: MTL 3, NE 2 (Salazar 40, 48; Piatti 54 - Kamara 18, 33)
9/17 MTL 1, NE 3 (Drogba 50 - Kamara 1, Rowe 27, 59)

• Coaches record: Jay Heaps vs. MTL: P13 W4 L7 D2 -- Mauro Biello vs. NE: P4 W3 L1 D0

LAST MEETING (MLS):

• The Revolution took the lead just a half-minute into the match. Kelyn Rowe took a quick pass from Juan Agudelo on the right wing and sent in a first-time cross for a free Kei Kamara in the box, whose downward header beat Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush at the far post.
• The lead was doubled in the 27th minute when Kamara this time played provider, sending a pass from the right to Rowe at the top of the box, who sent a precise strike inside of Bushís post and into the goal.
• The Impact pulled a goal back when a Harry Shipp shot was knocked down by the arms of Revs defender London Woodberry and referee Allen Chapman pointed to the spot. Didier Drogba made no mistake and dispatched the penalty with confidence in the 50th minute.
• But the Revolution restored their two-goal margin in the 59th minute. From a short corner, Chris Tierney sent in a cross which was punched away by Bush, but Rowe was right there to snap the rebound home from inside the area.
• MONTREAL IMPACT (4-2-3-1): Evan Bush - Donny Toia (Victor Cabrera 46), Hassoun Camara, Laurent Ciman, Ambroise Oyongo - Marco Donadel, Hernan Bernardello - Lucas Ontivero (Matteo Mancosu 60), Ignacio Piatti, Harry Shipp (Dominic Oduro 68) - Didier Drogba.
• NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (4-3-2-1): Brad Knighton - Andrew Farrell, London Woodberry, Jose Goncalves, Chris Tierney - Kelyn Rowe, Scott Caldwell, Lee Nguyen (Femi Hollinger-Janzen 86) - Juan Agudelo (Teal Bunbury 82), Diego Fagundez - Kei Kamara.