If their first game at the renovated Stade Saputo was any indication, the Montreal Impact could prove tough to beat on their home field.
The next opponent to visit has certainly had its problems in opposing stadiums lately.
After a brief and unsuccessful trip away from home, the Impact will try to bounce back by adding to the Houston Dynamo's lengthy road winless streak Saturday night.
Montreal (4-8-3) had a successful run during its five games at Olympic Stadium, going 2-1-2, but the expansion club looked even better in its inaugural Stade Saputo contest. The Impact doubled its best scoring output while routing Seattle 4-1 last Saturday.
They didn't fare as well in their first trip away from there, falling 2-1 to Chivas USA on Wednesday. Felipe Martins scored for the second straight game, but Montreal gave up the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute.
"We've seen this story too many times this year," captain Davy Arnaud said "We played well enough to come out of here with a result. We have to find way to make sure we get those points."
The Impact appear to have a good chance to earn three of them against the Dynamo (5-4-5), who have gone 0-4-3 in their last seven road games after winning their first two this season.
Houston also didn't appear sharp in the early going against visiting Toronto on Wednesday. The Dynamo fell behind 3-1 in the first half before Will Bruin scored a pair of goals in the final 17 minutes of regulation to forge a tie.
"If we go out there and come like we did in our last game, we'll be in trouble," forward Brian Ching told the official MLS website. "We've got to carry the momentum from the second half we played (Wednesday) and take that desire and fight into the start of the game on Saturday."
This game will mark a reunion for Ching, the Impact's first selection during the expansion draft in November. He was sent back to Houston, his home for seven seasons, in February for a conditional draft pick.
"Look at their first game in a new stadium and they put a whupping on a pretty good team," Ching said. "Their fan base is a great one and the atmosphere is fantastic up there and I'm looking forward to going up there and being a part of it."
Montreal forward Bernardo Corradi won't be a part of this game or any other for up to six months after tearing his left ACL in practice. Defender Matteo Ferrari is also out four to six weeks with an injured right quad.
