Impact-Aztex : Game 30 of Regular Season Sets Table for Game 1 of Playoffs
The Montreal Impact and Austin Aztex will not have long to think about what went right and what went wrong after yesterday’s regular season ending game that saw the Impact take it 2-0.
With the loss, Austin finished the season ranked third in the league standings, setting the table for a round 1 playoff match at Saputo Stadium on Wednesday at 7:30pm, with the second leg scheduled for Saturday in Austin at 8:30pm (Eastern time).
Points of interest leading up to the game on Wednesday:
- The playoffs are based on home and away aggregate goals. The Impact won six of its final seven games of the season. During that sequence, the Impact scored 16 goals while only allowing three.
- The Impact are defending champions. If you are worried about their stats this season, Montreal finished the season with the exact same record as last year: 12 wins, 11 losses and 7 draws.
- Aztex forward Randi Patterson was ejected after kicking Impact defender Wesley Charles in the face while on the ground. Patterson will sit out the first game of the quarterfinal. Not that his 2 goals and one assists are all that threatening, however it does give the Azex one less resource.
- THE Impact opted to rest Starting ‘keeper Matt Jordan, Defenders Nevio Pizzolitto and Hicham Aboubou and gave all strikers minimal pitch time to conserve energy. Expect the A team to try to better Sunday’s results.
- Rocco Placentino who was on the outside looking in down the recent 7 game stretch scored an impressive, much needed goal. This could be the catalyst for both extra pitch time and production from said pitch time.
- Caveat # 1: The Impact were playing 11 v 10 as of the 20th minute, so the field was slightly tilted in Montreal’s favour for a huge chunk of the game.
- Caveat # 2: The Aztex were not the league leaders in goals for by mistake. Maxwell Griffin and Edward Johnson have 24 goals between them and they or a number of their teammates can strike easily if left unmanned.
- Caveat # 3: It’s the playoffs. Records, recent streaks and stats mean absolutely nothing.
Catch the official game recap here.
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