Impact clinch playoff spot, beat Revolution 1-0

Saturday’s rematch with the Impact (7:30 pm ET, TSN2, RDS in Canada, MLS LIVE in US) provides New England an opportunity to get back on track and into the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, but the Revolution know they will have to do a better job defending Drogba in order to pick up a win.

“We control our own destiny”, forward Dominic Oduro said.

The Revolution usually attract a sizable crowd for their regular-season home finale.

The Revolution have been within a victory of the postseason since September 16, when they defeated the Eastern Conference-leading New York Red Bulls, 2-1.

Key Stat: New England Revolution are unbeaten in their last six home matches in MLS.

New England Revolution are only without Darrius Barnes for this one as the defender is set to miss the rest of the season. “We have to be ready for everything”. “There’s a really great team spirit and I’m really happy about that”. “Then all of a sudden he gets it on his right foot, he’s got class with his right foot, and we’ll be seeing that for a while”. “We have to get points there and go in with a little momentum”. Laurent Ciman will return to the Impact lineup after serving his one match suspension against New England. Just four points separate Montreal from second-place TFC. We kind of let ourselves down and the team down.

But still, they didn’t concede and managed to keep their shape intact, an indication that this team, come playoff time, isn’t going to be overcome very easily, not like the last time around. “And I think if we avoid those important mistakes and we try to play good soccer, I’m pretty sure we will score a lot of goals. Points on the road are extremely precious”.

Montreal (13-13-6) has a five-point lead over Orlando, which will be without the suspended Kaka on Friday. Piatti was able to loft the ball over New England keeper Booby Shuttleworth to make the match 1-0.

Montreal has played with 10 men for at least the final 27 minutes in the two matchups this season. “We’d obviously like to take their place in the standings”. A reminder that Impact playoff tickets will be going on sale to members on Tuesday and the general public next Saturday. In fact, the Revolution were kept off the scoreboard by Montreal in all three games this season. The squads have split the (1-1-0) series to date.

The subsequent removal of Frank Klopas as coach and the inclusion of Ivorian striker Didier Drogba would, however, revitalize the squad and completely change the trajectory of the season. Kickoff is set for 5:00pm.

In 2013, when the Impact made the playoffs for the first time in their sophomore MLS campaign, the manner in which they ended the year was anything but convincing.