MONTREAL - In spite of an impressive late-season surge, the lads from the Montreal Impact face a difficult task in their attempt to sneak into the playoffs.
The soccer squad plays its last home game Saturday evening against the FC Edmonton and hopes to make up a three point lead enjoyed by the Minnesota Stars for the sixth and final playoff spot.
The Impact has gone 4-1-2 in its last seven matches, but with only two games remaining its chances of making it into the playoffs remain anything but assured.
"Winning is our only option. We all understand the importance of the game," said Impact defender Philippe Billy in a statement on the team's website.
In its last game, the Impact shut out NASL standing leader Carolina RailHawks 1-0, in front of 12,297 spectators at Saputo Stadium.
"We need to be mentally and physically ready for this game against Edmonton," said Impact head coach and sporting director Nick De Santis.
Goalkeeper Evan Bush leads the NASL with a 0.85 GAA and has recorded clean sheets in his last three home games. In spite of a woeful season, the squad maintains the league's second best defensive record, having relinquished a measly 27 goals in 26 games.
The Impact is 2-1 against Edmonton in 2011, having won 5-0, 2-0 and then losing 1-0 on June 26.
Edmonton sits in fifth place with a record of 10-11-6.
