Posted by

Fred Jean-François ,

August 4, 2014 Twitter

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First Thoughts

The Montreal Impact is in its worst ever losing skid with a 6th straight loss after losing 2-0 at home to Toronto FC. The team is last in MLS in the standings is tied with Chivas USA for the fewest goals scored and has allowed the second most goals this year behind the Houston Dynamo. The Impact is now 13 points away from a playoff spot and would need to leapfrog 5 teams to make it to the MLS' second stage. They did win the Voyageurs' Cup and therefore qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League. This tournament becomes an important competition to salvage the 2014 season. It's their 3rd time in the competition after making the Quarter-Finals in 2008-09 and crashing out of the group stage on goal differential last year.



CD FAS will play in its 3rd Champions' League since the format change in 2007 and it has finished last of its group in 2010-11 and 2012-13. The club did win the Champions' Cup in 1979 led by Salvadorian legend Jorge Magico Gonzalez. The Tigrillos did qualify for the Chamipons' League by being the better runner-up in El Salvador's Primera División, thanks to Isidro Metapán's double. They have started their Apertura season last Saturday with a 1-0 away loss to Dragón.



Keep Thinking

The Impact have questions at centre back health wise with Heath Pearce missing the last game with an hamstring problem and Mamadou Danso who had to leave the last game. Hassoun Camara or Wandrille Lefèvre could play if those players are not fully fit. It also wouldn't be surprising if Dilly Duka gets his first start in the blue after a substitute appearance against Toronto, especially if Frank Klopas chooses to play with one forward.



According to multiple Salvadorian reports, many players and members of the technical staff weren't able to go to Montreal because of visa issues. Their manager, Efrain Burgos, father of the former Toronto and current Atlanta Silverbacks footballer Junior, had to stay behind. The Tigers weren't able to bring more than 14 players. They have brought only one goalkeeper. 2 of the 5 defenders brought on the trip have missed the last game due to injury. New signing forward Lester Blanco is expected to lead the line, having scored 4 goals in 11 starts for LA Firpo last year. He has already scored 5 goals for El Salvador's national team. Fellow countryman Moisés Xavier García has already won 24 caps as a defender. FAS has only filled 2 of its 3 foreign player slots by signing Argentinian forward Gonzalo Mazzia and Brazilian midfielder Marco Teruel. They have played in a 4-3-3 formation in their season opener.



In the end

The Impact is the worst team in MLS, but that team should be strong enough to beat a team that is weakened with visa issues. CD FAS has lost by at least 2 goals in every Champions League game they have played and it's hard to not see that trend going. The Impact should roll over the Salvadorian club.



Prediction

Montreal Impact 3-0 CD FAS