Match Preview - Caps vs Impact

Montreal Impact vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Stade Saputo – Montreal, Quebec
Saturday, April 29 | 12 pm PT
TV: CTV, TSN2
Radio: TSN 1410

Officiating crew:
REF: DREW FISCHER
AR1: Logan Brown
AR2: Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho
4TH: Sorin Stoica

After a mixed outing in Portland, the Caps packed up and travelled east to Montreal and La Belle Provence, for the first of three encounters with Montreal this month. The other two being the Voyageurs Cup (I refuse to accept it’s corporate American name) Semi-Final later this month.

I expect the Caps to come out with a very similar lineup to what Robbo fielded in Portland, however, I’d leave Tchani out and start Teibert, if Davies isn’t. Other than that, I didn’t see many issue with the lineup that was fielded at Providence Park. With the injuries to Shea and Hurtado, I expect Montero to lead the line with Bolanos somewhere in the midfield providing service. I also expect Techera to provide some service from the wide areas as well.

As for the Impact, Mancuso leads the line up top, but I suspect most will filter through or to Ignacio Piatti, arguably their most dangerous weapon, since the departure of Drogba. It will be up to Williams, Waston and possibly Laba as well to contain, or shut down Piatti.

Both teams have some promising youngsters making an impact in the MLS. Everybody and their pet ferret now know about Alphonso Davies, 16 year old phenom. A bigger mystery to Caps fans will be Montreal’s youngsters, Ballou Tabla and Anthony Jackson-Hamel. I know nothing about Tabla and have seen Jackon-Hamel in limited action.

The Caps are 0-3-0 on the road while the Impact are 1-0-1 at home.

Key players:
Caps:
Christian Bolanos
Sheanon Wiliams
Matias Laba

Impact:
Ignacio Piatti,
Laurent Ciman
Patrice Bernier.

Happy watching