The Montreal Impact delighted the crowd at their newly renovated home stadium this weekend with the best scoring effort of their inaugural campaign.
The Impact often have watched their opponents do most of the scoring when on the road but might catch a break Wednesday night, visiting a low-scoring Chivas USA team which is likely to be short-handed.
In its first game at the new Stade Saputo, Montreal (4-7-3) routed Seattle 4-1 to avoid a third consecutive loss. Felipe Martins, Justin Mapp, No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wenger and Lamar Neagle scored, and Patrice Bernier had three assists as the team matched its goal total from the previous three games combined (0-2-1).
"It's a process. We're building and it's good to see that it's coming together," goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts said. "Hopefully, it's not just one game and we can build on this and keep it up."
The Impact have allowed six goals in six home games but have been outscored 16-8 on the road, where they are 1-6-1. No team has given up more goals away from home.
Montreal, though, will get to face a Chivas team that's scored the fewest goals in the Western Conference this season (nine).
Chivas (4-7-3) has been outscored 10-3 while going 1-6-1 at home. The club endured a 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake during its most recent home game Saturday to end a 1-0-3 unbeaten run.
"I think we have something to prove to ourselves," coach Robin Fraser told the league's website. "We had a decent run and at times tonight it was good. But the execution wasn't good enough and certainly that is a thing that we as a group have to get back to sooner rather than later."
Fraser's team might have to seek that performance with forward Jose Correa and midfielder Miller Bolanos out of the lineup due to strained hamstrings. Correa is tied for the team lead in MLS play with two goals and Bolanos is the co-leader in assists with two.
"I think that (they are) probably unlikely," Fraser said. "I'm not a 100 percent sure, but they're coming along and doing very well."
Midfielder Nick LaBrocca is also dealing with a strained hamstring that's kept him out since May 23, and forward Tristan Bowen is listed as doubtful due to an injured ankle.
This is the only match between the clubs this season.
