Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) - The Montreal Impact and D.C. United will square off at the Stade Saputo on Wednesday before MLS takes a short break to accommodate the group stage of the World Cup.
The clash comes at a slightly inopportune time for the Impact, who have not had a league match since May 31.
On that day, Montreal managed to rebound from a humiliating defeat to the Colorado Rapids by getting a 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution, snapping a five-game winning run from Jay Heaps' men.
"This is only the first step. We still have a lot of work to do," said Impact head coach Frank Klopas. "...The chances we created were through buildup and movement. It wasn't luck. The performance was good, but it could always get better. This isn't a team that should be where it's at right now, it's better than that."
Issey Nakajima-Farran made his first start for Montreal since transferring to the club from Toronto FC, and the winger appears to be a solid addition to the Eastern Conference cellar-dwellers.
"I was a little surprised of the chemistry we all had. I felt really comfortable out there. Usually it takes a good five or six games," said Nakajima-Farran. "Everybody was playing simple and the ball was zipping around. The quality I see on this team is great, with guys playing at a high level all over the world."
D.C. United enters the contest on the back of a scoreless draw with the Columbus Crew, a match that saw Fabian Espindola miss a penalty kick for the first time in his MLS career.
"It's a little disappointing in the end not to get points out of the (penalty) late like that, but Fabi's been the man for us this year so he certainly can take the next one," DCU head coach Ben Olsen said.
D.C. has been formidable at home this season, posting a 5-0-3 record since its opening day defeat to Columbus.
Away from RFK Stadium, though, is where the struggles have set in. United, which has taken a 1-3-1 record from its travels thus far, recorded its lone road win of the season on May 10 with a 1-0 defeat of the Philadelphia Union.
Olsen's men followed that victory with a 1-1 draw against Montreal as Eddie Johnson netted his first goal for United, scoring in the 85th minute off of a cross from Espindola to ensure a point for his side.