New York City FC vs. Montreal Impact | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 20
New York City FC vs. Montreal Impact
Yankee Stadium – Bronx
October 24 – 7:30 PM ET

TV: TSN5, TVA Sports

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

LOCAL TV: YES

New York City FC are looking to snap a three-match winless streak when they take on a Montreal Impact squad in search of consecutive wins for just the second time this season when the Eastern Conference foes square off at Yankee Stadium Saturday night. 

NYCFC (8W-8L-3D) are coming off a 3-1 loss to Columbus Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium Sunday, while the Impact (7W-10L-2D) rebounded from consecutive defeats to knock off Inter Miami CF 2-1 at Red Bull Arena. 

New York City FC

After conceding twice, Taty Castellanos pulled NYCFC to within a goal early in the second half, but the Cityzens were unable to find the equalizer and gave up a Gyasi Zardes insurance tally in second-half stoppage time to suffer a 3-1 defeat to the Crew at MAPFRE Stadium Sunday night. Maxi Moralez made his return from a knee injury that sidelined him for the last seven games, coming off the bench for a 28-minute shift. 

NYCFC, however, host Montreal without both Castellanos and Maxime Chanot, who are suspended for one game for yellow card accumulation. The logical choice for Chanot's spot alongside Alex Callens is Sebastien Ibeagha, but without another forward on the roster, replacing Castellanos isn't as straightforward. 

“We have different solutions, but I think it's important that we keep ourselves to what we have done and not change too much,” Ronny Delia said Friday. “It, of course, has to be some of the front players that has to play the No. 9. If it's Gary [Mackay-Stevens] or [Ismael Tajouri-Shradi] or Jesus [Medina], Maxi can play as a false No. 9. We'll see tomorrow."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Gedion Zelalem (M) - knee injury
  • OUT: Tayvon Gray (D) - undisclosed injury
  • OUT: Heber (F) - ACL injury
  • OUT: James Sands (M) - fractured right foot
• Suspended: Maxime Chanot (D), Valentin Castellanos (F)
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty:  None

Montreal Impact

Bojan scored early and set up Maxi Urruti for the the 80th-minute winner to help lead the Impact to a 2-1 win over Inter Miami Saturday at Red Bull Arena.

"We just needed to win," Thierry Henry said after the match. "It's obvious against them it was a must-win, but we wanted to win against Philly, we wanted to win against New England. It didn't happen obviously. The less games you have, obviously the more it's going to be a must-win at the end of the season, especially against a team that was right behind you."

That good news, though, was dampened a bit by the club announcement Monday that winger Lassi Lappalainen will undergo shoulder surgery in Italy that will keep him out of action for the rest of the season. However, young center back Luis Binks hasn't ruled out the possibility of another season in Montreal. 

“I wouldn’t mind another season here. It’s a good league to come and learn. But being away from home, if the world is how it is next year, it’ll be very difficult being away for another 12 months,” he recently told the Montreal Gazette.

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Mathieu Choinière (M) - ankle injury
  • OUT: Orji Okwonkwo (F) - hamstring injury
  • OUT: Lassi Lappalainen (M) - shoulder injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty:  None

Series Matchup at NYCFC

• NYCFC: 2 wins, 10 goals
• Impact: 1 win, 6 goals
• 3 draws

Officials

• Referee: Ramy Touchan
• Assistant Referees: Eric Weisbrod, Adam Garner
• 4th Official: Adam Kilpatrick
• VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.