Impact Plays Second NCC Match Wednesday In Vancouver
May 4, 2010 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Montreal Impact News Release
BURNABY - The Montreal Impact plays its second Nutrilite Canadian Championship match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Wednesday, at Swangard Stadium, in Burnaby, near Vancouver (10 pm, Sportsnet).
The Impact will attempt to earn their first points of the tournament, after losing 2-0 against Toronto, last Wednesday, at BMO Field.
"We are starting the tournament with the two biggest challenges but we know that if we can get the three points on Wednesday, we will be back in a good position, knowing that the next two matches will be at home," said Impact midfielder David Testo. "It will be another battle between both clubs. The team that will want to get the win the most will get it."
"We have the possibility to control our destiny in the tournament by getting points in Vancouver," said midfielder Tony Donatelli. "We have to approach the game with the right mentality and use the positive aspects of our win against Puerto Rico. We have forgotten the game in Toronto and we are 100% focused on Wednesday's game."
Last year, Vancouver concluded the Canadian Championship with three wins and one loss, but did not clinch the championship due to a goal differential in favour of Toronto.
Both teams will match up for the first time since the last playoff final, when the Impact won 6-3 in an aggregate goal, home and away series.
"There is a rivalry between both clubs because of what happened last year," declared Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "We are not very liked by the crowd in Vancouver but once the referee blows the whistle, it's a 90-minute battle. We have already won there and we know that we can do it again. It will be a game without tomorrow."
The Impact plays a total of nine matches in May: five league matches, three Canadian Championship games and a friendly game versus Italian club Fiorentina.
"With so many matches in May, there's little room to train in order to improve the tactical aspect of our game," added Dos Santos. "We must nonetheless make sure to apply our principles correctly. It will be important in Vancouver to move more quickly and to gain possession faster."
The Whitecaps have a 2-1-1 record in four regular season matches in the USSF Second Division. At home, Vancouver remains undefeated and has not allowed any goals in two matches at Swangard Stadium. The Whitecaps shut out the NSC Minnesota Stars 2-0 on April 11 during their game opener and defeated St. Louis 1-0 on April 24.
Vancouver, which will join MLS next season, made a number of important acquisitions during the off season. The following players are now with the Whitecaps: midfielders Jonathan Steele (Puerto Rico), Ricardo Sanchez (Minnesota), Zurab Tsiskaridze (Miami FC) and Blake Wagner (FC Dallas, MLS). Defenders Chris Williams and Nelson Akwari, who evolved with the Charleston Battery in 2009, are now with Vancouver.
Forward Eduardo Sebrango (thigh) and defender Stefano Pesoli (ankle) have not traveled with their teammates on the west coast due to injuries.
Forward Roberto Brown, suspended by the club after hitting Toronto FC defender Nick Garcia in the face last Wednesday, will also miss the game. The Canadian Soccer Association also announced Monday that he will have to serve a two-game suspension in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. He will therefore also miss the May 12 match against Toronto FC.
OTHER FACTS
- In four matches versus Vancouver in the Canadian Championship, the Impact earned two wins in 2008 and two losses in 2009. In 2008, the Impact won 2-0 on June 17 in Montreal, before winning with the same score on June 25 in Vancouver. Last year, Montreal lost 2-0 on May 20 in Montreal and 1-0 on May 27 in Vancouver.
- During the 2009 regular season, the Impact tallied three wins versus the Whitecaps: 2-1 on June 7 in Vancouver, 2-1 on June 20 in Montreal and 1-0 on September 9, once again at Saputo Stadium.
- The Impact maintains a 23-9-5 record in 37 regular season matches versus Vancouver (45 GF - 26 GA).
- Since the start of the tournament in 2008, goalkeeper Matt Jordan (720 minutes) and defender Adam Braz (703 minutes) are the two most used Impact players.
THE NUTRILITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
- The Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps match up in a six-game tournament to advance into the CONCACAF Champions League.
- The Voyageurs Cup is awarded to the top Canadian professional club since 2002. The Impact won this trophy for seven consecutive years, from 2002 to 2008.
- The winner of the tournament will have to play a home and away series in the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League, before advancing to the group phase.
NEXT THREE MATCHES
- Saturday, May 8 - Minnesota @ IMPACT -Saputo Stadium - 2:30 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports)
- Wednesday, May 12 - Toronto @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium - 8 pm (Sportsnet)*
- Saturday, May 15 - IMPACT @ Vancouver - Swangard Stadium - 10:30 pm (Radio-Canada, whitecapsfc.com)
* Nutrilite Canadian Championship match
North American Soccer League Stories from May 4, 2010
- The Montreal Impact Academy Unveils Its 2010 Calendar And Roster - Montreal Impact
- Whitecaps FC Set For Canadian Championship - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Impact Plays Second NCC Match Wednesday In Vancouver - Montreal Impact
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