NYCFC’s sixth game against Montreal is coming up fast.
Following on from our emphatic 4-0 victory over DC United, we return to Yankee Stadium for a fixture with an already-compelling history.
Key Stats
- NYCFC is 3W-1L-1D vs. Montreal all-time. There has been an average of 3.6 goals per game across the five league matchups between the two sides.
- NYCFC has won eight of their last nine MLS home games (1D), averaging 3.1 goals per game across this run. They have scored four goals in three consecutive home MLS regular season games.
- Montreal has only conceded 12 goals in their last 11 MLS regular season away games, although they have only kept three clean sheets on that run (2W-4L-5D).
- Ignacio Piatti has scored three of the last five Montreal goals against NYCFC (seven total goals against NYCFC in franchise history). Piatti leads the league with nine dribbles completed so far this season (only three players have completed more than six).
- Maxi Moralez had two assists against D.C. United. This is just the tenth instance of a NYCFC player having two assists in a single MLS game, and Moralez becomes only the eighth player to accomplish this feat (Andrea Pirlo and Khiry Shelton have each done it twice.)
- Following his brace at the weekend, David Villa has now registered 11 multi-goal games in the MLS regular season since 2015, the most of any player in the league in that time frame.
- So far this year, NYCFC is facing an average of 2.5 shots on target per game. They faced an average of 5.7 shots on target in their first year, and 4.8 in 2016.
- Following on from last weekend’s game against Seattle, Matteo Mancuso now has five goals in his last seven MLS appearances (including playoffs). He only had three goals in his first 15 MLS games.
- NYCFC has scored 71 home goals since they joined the league in 2015, the third-most in that time span.
- Last year, Montreal conceded 16 headed goals, the most of any MLS team. NYCFC scored only four headed goals, tied for the fewest of any MLS team.
The Last Time…
It’s been 11 months since we last met Montreal when there was a late sting in the tail for the hosts.
RJ Allen’s 51st minute goal had NYCFC on their way to victory in April 2016 but Dominic Oduro came up with the equalizer in injury-time, denying Patrick Vieira’s men the full three points.
What’s Changed?
NYCFC took revenge for that last-minute suckerpunch when the teams reconvened for their last encounter in Canada in July, with goals from David Villa, Jack Harrison and Frank Lampard securing a 3-1 away win.
Since, Montreal have seen a high turnover in their squad with nine players leaving, including Didier Drogba, Harry Schipp and Johan Venegas and seven came in.
Even so, they managed to hold on to most of the starters who led them to the MLS Playoffs Eastern Conference final.
Last Match
Montreal met reigning MLS champions Seattle Sounders at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, slipping to a 2-2 draw, despite leading 2-0 until the 83rd minute.
Two late goals from Nicolas Lodeiro and Will Bruin cancelled out earlier strikes from Matteo Mancosu and Ignacio Piatti.
Last Season
Impact finished in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and 11th overall, falling to Toronto in the MLS Playoffs Eastern Conference final to Toronto.
