By Canadian Press

Impact look to stretch winning run to three against red-hot Kansas City

Jun 29, 2018 | 1:00 PM

MONTREAL — It was one thing for the Montreal Impact to win a pair of games against an Orlando City side in disarray, but it will be quite another to extend their streak against red-hot Sporting Kansas City.

Western Conference-leading Kansas City (9-2-5) brings a seven-game unbeaten run — nine if you include two wins in U.S. Open Cup play — to their meeting Saturday night at Saputo Stadium.

Victories of 3-0 and 2-0 over Orlando in the last two weeks gave Montreal (6-11-0) three wins in their last four outings. They have looked better organized on defence since centrebacks Rod Fanni and Rudy Camacho finally got to play together and have scoring star Ignacio Piatti back on form after a five-game slump.

But coach Remi Garde’s side faces a stiff test to start the second half of the 34-game regular season schedule.

“There’s no better time for a challenge like this,” midfielder Samuel Piette said Friday. “It’s a good time for us to make a statement to ourselves, our fans and the league that we have a team that has to be taken seriously.

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“Confidence is high after our recent performances and results.”

A doubt hanging over the squad concerns Fanni’s future. The 36-year-old former Marseille defender’s half-season contract ends Saturday night, although Garde said this week the team hopes to extend his deal.

Fanni signed in March to replace centreback Zakaria Diallo, who suffered a season-ending injury a few days before the regular season opener. The veteran’s intelligence and calming influence in the back in the 10 matches he’s played have been invaluable on a team that struggled defensively for most of the season.

“He’s huge for us playing in the centreback position,” said Piette. “Big guy, experienced, fast, physical, calm on the ball.

“Obviously we’d love to keep him. It’s not in my hands, but hopefully he’ll stay.”

Kansas City, whose last loss was to New England on April 28, is one of the league’s top scoring clubs with 31 goals in 16 games.

“It’s a team that likes to possess the ball,” said Piette. “Defensively they press a lot so it’ll be important to break that first line of pressure and, when we defend, be patient.

“We’ll have our chances. We’re more of a counterattack team with Nacho (Piatti), Matteo (Mancosu), Raheem (Edwards) and Alejandro (Silva) — fast players up top. So it’s important to be patient and finish our chances.”

Montreal has scored only 20 times in 17 matches, and Piatti has figured in 14 of them, so having the 33-year-old Argentine healthy and confident has been key. The club is expected to seek help on attack when the summer transfer window opens in two weeks. 

“We won two games, we’re three or four points from the playoffs, so mentally, it’s good,” said Piatti. “It’s important to win and get points at home. We know that Kansas is a very good team.”

The Impact are heading into their busiest month of the season, with seven games in July including a Canadian Cup series against the Whitecaps July 18 in Montreal and July 25 at Vancouver and five MLS games. 

———

KANSAS CITY (9-2-5) AT MONTREAL (6-11-0)

Saturday, Saputo Stadium

TOUGH OPPONENT — Kansas City are unbeaten (4-0-2) in their last six games against the Impact. They drew 2-2 on K.C.’s last visit to Montreal in 2016.

HISTORIC COMEBACK — Kansas City’s unbeaten run nearly ended last week when they trailed Houston 2-0 at the half, but came back to win 3-2. It was the first time K.S. won after being behind by two goals. 

ALL-STAR NACHO — Piatti was the lone Impact player picked for the MLS all-star game Aug. 1 in Atlanta, his third such selection. The club scoring leader with eight goals was a coaches’ choice. For K.C., defender Graham Zusi was voted into the starting 11 by fans while midfielder Ilie Sanchez was a coaches’ pick.

HELLO TO TATA — Piatti is looking forward to spending time with Atlanta United coach Gerardo (Tata) Martino, the former bench boss for Barcelona and the Argentine national squad.

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press