Montreal, QC – The Montreal Impact could be the best Canadian team in their expansion season, but their road woes ultimately cost the club the chance to play in the postseason in their first year.
Thanks to an impressive 10-3-3 home record, Montreal remained in the chase for a playoff spot late into the season, but just nine points from 17 road matches was not enough to get the club over the hump.
Even on points with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which qualified for the postseason from the West, Montreal could still finish with the highest point total of any Canadian club with a good result Saturday against the new England Revolution.
Luckily for Montreal, the match is at Saputo Stadium.
The Impact (12-15-6) have 33 of their 42 points at home this year, and can end the season on a high note against the Revolution (8-17-8).
Montreal enters the match on a five-game winless streak, but has tied its last three matches. Last week, the Impact tied Toronto FC, 0-0, on the road.
Although it was not the result Montreal hope for, especially against the squad with the fewest points in MLS, it was a positive result on the road.
"Now we just have to make sure we get the three points at home next weekend," Montreal's Hassoun Camara said.
Finishing as the top team in Canada has more than just bragging rights, as the top seed for the 2013 Canadian Championship is also on the line.
Montreal has won its first two matches against New England this year, securing a 2-1 win at Saputo in July and a 1-0 win at New England in August.
Like Montreal, New England has struggled on the road this year. The Revolution are just 1-13-2, with their lone win in late March at the Los Angeles Galaxy. In their last 13 road games, New England has 11 losses and two draws.
A much better squad at home, shown in a 1-0 win over the playoff-bound Chicago Fire last weekend, New England will try end to its away woes with one eye on a positive jumpstart for next season.
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