This Sunday, however, for the team’s 2004 season opener, they will be in completely unknown territory as they will be in Puerto Rico for the first time ever to face the expansion-team Islanders.
"Heat will be a factor, so we’ll have to have an intelligent approach to the game, to make sure we don’t run out of gas after 30 minutes," said Impact head coach Nick DeSantis before the team’s departure. "There’s also the fact that we won’t be on the North American continent, and the atmosphere may be quite different than what we’re used to seeing on the road. Under those conditions, it’s hard to say how everybody on the field will react."
"The first 15 to 20 minutes of the game will be very important for us," said veteran defender Gabriel Gervais. "We’ll have to keep it simple at first, to give us some time to adapt to the playing conditions. After that, the more the game will go on, I’m confident the more we’ll take control of the game."
The Islanders have already played one game this season. Last Saturday, they lost 1-0 to the Toronto Lynx at home at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, following an own goal by Diego Deering.
For the Impact, Sunday’s game will be the first of a three-game road trip. Montreal will then face the 2003 A-League champion Battery, Friday in Charleston, and the Silverbacks in Atlanta, Saturday.
"Starting the season with three games on the road is tough, especially when you consider that we’re trying to have a more offensive approach, and that a team usually tends to be more in a defensive shell when it plays away," noted DeSantis. "But we need to get results anyway, we have to stay focused, and set a positive mindset in our game in Puerto Rico so that it sets the tone for our games in Charleston and Atlanta next week."
After the road trip, the Impact will have two weeks to prepare for its home opener at Claude Robillard Stadium, set for Sunday, May 16 at 4 pm against the Virginia Beach Mariners.
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SOURCE:
bcomm
INFO:
Stéphane Banfi
514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
