FRISCO – FC Dallas returns after 11 days off when the club hits the road to Montreal to face the Impact at Stade Saputo on Saturday (7:30 p.m. FCDallas.com). This will be the second game of a two-game home stretch for the Impact. Game one was a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.
The North is Coming
After three straight home matches and a road trip to Sporting Kansas City thrown in, FC Dallas now faces two challengers from North of the border in its next two games. The Vancouver Whitecaps come to town on July 29. The Impact will play hosts to FC Dallas. Montreal has been solid at home, sporting a 5-2-1 record in friendly confines.
Home Impact
The Impact have been flying at home recently. In their last six home games, Montreal has gotten 16 of a possible 18 points. Winning at home is a must in MLS, something Montreal has done plenty of that this season but a 1-4-5 road record finds them in eight place in the East on 24 points.
Dzemaili Shows Up
Blerim Dzemaili joined the Impact from Bologna in May, and since then has started eight matches with four goals and four assists. He scored a wonderful game-winning goal against the Union on Wednesday. With Matt Hedges still on Gold Cup duty, and now Jesse Gonzalez joining him, the FC Dallas backline will have to find a way to shut down Dzemaili who has done a solid job filling in for all-star winger Nacho Piatti.
Seitz in the Saddle
Chris Seitz finds himself in a similar situation to last season. Jesse Gonzalez is gone on national duty, and he is left to man the sticks for FC Dallas. The 30-year-old keeper will look to build on a 2-1 record in three starts this season.
Tale of Two Breaks
FC Dallas will enter the match with 11 days of rest, which is always good. The Impact on the other-hand, played a match on Wednesday night – just three days of rest. Will the rust hurt FC Dallas? Or will the fatigue hinder Montreal?
