The renaissance. Montreal Impact's scoreless draw on Ft Lauderdale means more than a point.

A lot of changes on Montreal's lineup this time, hoping for better results, gave at least a tie on the road. Is this a sign of improvement? I would not think so, but I still believe this is the moment to test all the possibles set ups available on the field for Dos Santos.



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Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls in Montreal (Kickoff 7:30pm today)

Henry in press conference in Montreal.

Today, the city will have a great appetizer for the next season start in MLS. Not only the best forward of the last 10 years in world football is here in Montreal, but with him is also the most talented team in the Major League Soccer nowadays.

Montreal Impact will play a friendly match against the New York Red Bulls and it will be interesting, after loosing the series against Vancouver Whitecaps in NCC, to see how the team is this time preparing their lines against an elite MLS team.

The Red Bulls are in town and bring the most offensive minded rosters in the circuit, let me present the players that make this well oiled machine be the leaders of the Eastern Conference.

Tim Ream

Tim Ream #5, central back and two times captain of the US Men National Team is the bet for the future of the defensive line in the big apple. Exciting player with one of the best passing completion ratio on his team.

Joel Lindpierre #20, left attacking midfield, last year Red Bulls MVP, creates spaces very easily and offers a skillful left leg that normally overplay most of league defenders.

Dane Richards #19, right midfield, 26 times Jamaican captain, led NY in game winning goals last season and is one the fastest players in the league.

De Rosario

Dwayne De Rosario #11, offensive midfield, 55 times captain of Canada's National Team, 5 times MLS All Star and MLS cup MVP in 2007. DeRo is one of the most awarded players in MLS and is the most recent acquisition of the Red Bulls, coming from his born city Toronto, in order to set the plays for Henry and the rest of the team.

Rafa Marquez #4, central back, ex-FC Barcelona, winner of the record 6 titles in 2009 including UEFA Champions league and La Liga title. The most recognized Mexican captain playing the FIFA World Cup in 2002 Japan and Corea, 2006 Germany and 2010 in South Africa brings all the experience in the defensive line creating a great mix with Tim Ream.

Juan Agudelo #17, the youngest player ever to score with US National Team, the 18 years old has been a sensation lately in the US and the Red Bulls scoring spectacular goals and helping Henry to set the show in the front of the big apple squad.

This is just a short list of great players to watch today in the Saputo Stadium.

For more information you can go to Montreal Impact web page

I hope to see you there.

Montreal Impact says good bye to Champions League again...

Is it just me or since the Impact was a goal close to Concacaf Champions League semifinals in 2009, with the 55.000 fans in the Olympic Stadium, we now feel  no other Canadian club can honor the competition the same way? Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps know they have to make an exceptional continental campaign in order to be remembered the way Montreal is.

Well, last night we could enjoy how can a team with more than three times Montreal's salary budget could not score a goal, in their magic Empire Field, until minute 113 in the overtime. It was also nice to see Montreal playing as the underdogs and dominating ball possession, in the feet of ex-whitecap David Testo, during the first 30 minutes of the game. I admit I really enjoyed it.

At the end of 1st half, the Whitecaps started to explain why they compete in MLS. Davide Chiumiento, a player who back in 2003 substituted Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero in a UEFA Champions League match against Ajax, pulled Vancouver from all strings and set the attacking pace all over the terrain. Also Russel Teibert, young canadian sensation, helped the Caps bring the attack on the left flank creating all sorts of opportunities and forcing Montreal to the counter attack. On minute 83, after several non conclusive attempts of long balls crosses it was one aimed to Ali Gerba which led to Montreal's penalty kick after a challenge suffered in the zone. This tied the game in aggregate 1-1 and forced the overtime.

Overtime was almost one Vancouver monologue thanks to late substitution in of fresh legs Camilo who led the attack of the Caps. The young Brazilian received a foul very close to Montreal area, which led to Vancouver goal in overtime.

A dramatic finish, for those who always believe in miracles, was set by a fantastic play between Le Gall and Gerba ending with a diving header that hit the post, on minute 120. This would have meant a Montreal direct victory by outscoring the Whitecaps in visitors goals, but history was not on Impact's side that night.

I was very much satisfied with David Testo's performance in the first half. This is the midfield could led the Impact to big wins, but he needs the rest of the team to play more as a group in order to be more effective. I also liked the intensity of Lowery on the midfield, destroying every creation around him. But the best of the night was Nevio Pizzolito, very solid in the back, intimidating and keeping danger away Gaudette's net.

NCC will be another story next year and I hope the MLS fever here in Montreal does not overshadow the beauty of this cup.