By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Friday, May 20, 2011
Tonight
FC Tampa Bay vs. Montreal Impact
Records: Tampa Bay 1-2-3; Montreal 1-3-1
When/where: 7; Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
How to follow: Live stream at fctampabay.com; live radio broadcast on 1010-AM
Promotion: Tampa Bay is hosting its second annual Military Appreciation Night. … Former Rowdies Derek Backman and Kevin Clinton will sign autographs on the concourse from 6:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Postgame on the field: Fans can watch the nearby fireworks display from Vinoy Park, scheduled to begin at 9:45 p.m.
Previous meetings: Tampa Bay played its best game of the season April 23 at Montreal, coach Ricky Hill said, but settled for a 0-0 draw. That was Tampa Bay's third game. In the opener, Takuya Yamada scored a late goal in the 86th minute to lift Tampa Bay over Montreal for its only victory.
Last time out: Tampa Bay was seconds from win No. 2 on May 11 against FC Edmonton but surrendered a stoppage-time goal, and the match finished 1-1. Tampa Bay's match at Fort Lauderdale last weekend was postponed until June 29 because of inclement weather. … Montreal lost a home match 2-1 last weekend to Carolina, a disappointing result considering the Impact defeated MLS's New York Red Bulls 1-0 in a home friendly before that.
Skinny: Hill said his biggest disappointment this season has been the team's inability to finish. Tampa Bay ranks seventh in the NASL with four goals, ahead of only Atlanta (three). … Tampa Bay is one of three teams without a multiple-goal scorer. … D Andres Arango is questionable after reinjuring his right ankle Tuesday in practice. The initial injury kept him out of Tampa Bay's past two matches. Arango returned to practice Friday. … Defender Frankie Sanfilippo has received a yellow card in each of the past two games and has a team-high three. According to NASL rules, when a player accumulates five, he is suspended for one match. … Outside of defenders J.P. Rodrigues, Omar Jarun and Sanfilippo, who have been forced into extended action because of injuries to others, only M Tony McManus and F/M Pascal Millien have started every game. … GK Daryl Sattler ranks second in the league with a 0.64 GAA despite an ACL tear that ended his season in Game 4 vs. Atlanta (April 30).
Tickets: (813) 287-1539, fctampabay.com or at the stadium box office on game day, which opens at 4 p.m.
Bryan Burns, Times staff writer