Sporting KC (9-5-2, 29 pts) at Montreal Impact (5-10-3, 18 pts)
Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - 6:00 p.m. CT
Stade Saputo | Montreal, Quebec
English TV: KSMO-TV, KMTW, WIBW
Spanish Radio: La Gran D 1340 AM
Broadcast Coordinates:
KU BAND (Dirty HD 1080i)
Galaxy 17, Tr. 19
DL: 12080(H) | SR: 29.27 | FEC: 3/4
Game Notes | Video Soundbytes | Media Guide
(July 3, 2012) - Sporting Kansas City reaches the halfway point of the 2012 season on Wednesday when they take on the expansion Montreal Impact at 6 p.m. CT in the team's first trip to Stade Saputo. The match will air live on KSMO-TV (Kansas City), KMTW (Wichita) and WIBW (Topeka), with radio coverage also available for Spanish listeners on La Gran D 1340 AM.
After a 2-0 home loss in the first-ever meeting with the Impact on Cinco de Mayo at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, Sporting Kansas City will now get their rematch with the Canadian club on the Fourth of July. The midweek match-up is Sporting Kansas City's sixth match in all competition in the last 19 days and comes amidst a stretch of 11 games in MLS and U.S. Open Cup play between June 16 and July 21.
Sporting Kansas City sits in third place with 29 points in the Eastern Conference and has an opportunity on Wednesday to gain ground on the second place New York Red Bulls and first place D.C. United, both of whom are idle until the weekend.
While Sporting Kansas City's defense leads the League in goals against average, having conceded 16 goals through 16 games, goalkeeper and team captain Jimmy Nielsen leads the League with nine wins and six shutouts. Sporting Kansas City has also allowed the fewest shots this season (168) of all MLS teams, while attempting the most (266) in the League.
Conversely, Montreal has allowed an MLS-high 32 goals this season despite the presence of 2010 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Donovan Ricketts in net. However, the Impact's 24 goals scored this season is third most in the East and puts the club on pace for the most goals per game by an expansion team since Major League Soccer's initial expansion in 1998.
Both teams enter the midweek meeting coming off back-to-back losses in their last two League matches and both sides will want to get on the scoresheet, having been held scoreless in more than 200 minutes in MLS play. Sporting Kansas City fell 1-0 at home to the Chicago Fire on Friday, while Montreal suffered their second straight 3-0 defeat at D.C. United on Saturday.
The Impact are 4-2-2 at home in their debut season, picking up 14 of their 18 points in Montreal. After playing at Stade olympique to start the season, they'll play their fourth match in the renovated Stade Saputo on Wednesday.
Montreal is led by club captain and former KC veteran Davy Arnaud in the midfield, while Designated Player Marco Di Vaio made his debut last week to bolster an attack left shorthanded by injuries.
Fellow Italian striker and the team's leading goal scorer Bernardo Corradi is out with a torn ACL, while Andrew Wenger, the first overall pick in this year's SuperDraft, is sidelined with a hamstring strain. Jesse Marsch's squad will also be without experienced central defenders Nelson Rivas (abdomen) and Matteo Ferrari (quad strain).
Live coverage of Wednesday's match will be broadcast with the commentary team of Cal Williams and Jake Yadrich beginning at 6 p.m. CT. Viewers are encouraged to use the #SKCtv hashtag on Twitter for the opportunity to have their comments shown throughout the broadcast.
Sporting Kansas City supporters can also follow the game online via @SKCGameday on Twitter and the MLSSoccer.com MatchCenter, or on mobile devices with Sporting Explore and MLS MatchDay apps.
