Whitecaps Double-Header This Sunday
June 5, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
Vancouver Whitecaps FC men (3W-3L-2D) turn their attentions back to the USL First Division when they host Canadian rivals Montreal Impact (2W-4L-2D) at Swangard Stadium on Sunday evening.
Teitur Thordarson's side head into their third meeting of the season with the Quebec-based outfit in buoyant mood after making headlines on Tuesday night with a 2-0 home win over Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. The victory put the Blue and White in prime position to succeed the Impact as winners of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship and claim Canada's lone spot in the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League. The 'Caps lead TFC by three points at the top of three-club championship standings, with the MLS club now needing a win by four goals or more at Montreal on Thursday, June 18, to claim the title.
The Whitecaps fine run in the tournament was helped by two wins over the Impact last month. On May 20 at Stade Saputo, goals by Marcus Haber and Charles Gbeke gave Vancouver their first-ever win at Montreal's soccer-specific stadium. A week later, youngster Ethan Gage struck his first goal for the 'Caps men's team in a 1-0 win over Montreal at Swangard. The May 27 result ended the Impact's defence of the Canadian title.
With their Canadian Championship campaign at an end, the focus now for Thordarson's squad is becoming upwardly mobile in USL-1, with the 'Caps keen to end a two-match losing streak after defeats to Rochester and Portland Timbers last month. They host an Impact side that are making a two-match road swing through the Pacific Northwest, with Montreal starting their trip with a late 1-0 defeat to the Timbers in Portland on Thursday night.
Sunday's match will be the 43rd all-time meeting between the Whitecaps and Montreal, with the Impact leading the all-time series of results with 23 wins, 12 defeats, and six draws. This includes the Impact's record of 12 wins, seven defeats, and a draw in Vancouver.
WHITECAPS
Tuesday night will live long in the memory of those who follow the Whitecaps. Not only was the club's first home win over TFC considered a major victory, it put the USL-1 champions in the driver's seat to claim the Voyageurs Cup and enter the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time in club history.
Thordarson felt his side showed some of their best form of the season against their MLS foes. "I was extremely happy with our shape, both offensively and defensively," he told whitecapsfc.com. "I thought that we were tight and difficult to break down, so that was very nice to see. We also showed some decent attacking soccer. The main thing was the way the players worked so hard and helped each other. That shows the high level of team spirit we have at the moment."
The 'Caps must now look to build on their Canadian Championship results by making serious inroads in USL-1. Vancouver's two recent league defeats have left the club in the unfamiliar position of mid-table. "It is important for us to focus now on the league and prepare for that," said Thordarson. "We've played very well in the Nutrilite Championship and we need to carry that forward into our league matches. I know that all of the teams in our league will struggle to play against us when we are at our best, just like we've been in some of our recent matches."
Thordarson will be boosted by the return of captain Martin Nash. The playmaker missed Tuesday's match after being suspended from the championship contest for picking up two yellow cards. Midfielder Justin Moose, however, will miss Sunday's game with the foot injury he picked up in last Saturday's league defeat in Portland. Joining him on the sidelines are defender Geordie Lyall and striker Marlon James. The experienced pair will also miss the weekend match with hamstring injuries.
IMPACT
The early-season problems that saw a slow start in USL-1 and sudden departure of John Limniatis as head coach has made way to a more settled period for the Impact. Since Marc Dos Santos succeeded Limniatis as head coach, Montreal went undefeated in three league matches before falling to defeat in Portland on Thursday night.
Though the Vancouver visit will be their second match in four days, Thordarson is preparing for another tough battle with the Impact. "All the games we've played against Montreal have been tight and tough. I expect Sunday's game will be no different," said the Icelandic tactician. "We know they have a lot of quality players and we have to be very aware that we are playing a strong team."
The Impact are without several players for their second game at Swangard in a week-and-a-half. Defender Zanzan Atte-Oudeyi is away on FIFA World Cup qualifying duty with his native Togo, while teammates Adam Braz (thigh), Cédric Joqueviel (thigh), Patrick Leduc (foot), and Stefano Pesoli (knee) are sidelined with injuries. Those absences have seen centre back Elkana Mayard earn a call-up from the Impact's affiliate club Trois-Rivières Attak.
FAMILIAR FACES
One of the many common ties between Montreal and Vancouver has been the number of players that have played for both clubs in recent years. The current Whitecaps squad have two players in Gbeke and Nash that have had previous spells with the Impact.
Montreal, meanwhile, have five former Whitecaps players in their squad. Midfielders Tony Donatelli, Joey Gjertsen, and David Testo were all members of the 2006 USL-1 champion Whitecaps squad before heading east to Quebec. The trio were joined this season by goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic and experienced striker Eduardo Sebrango. The former Cuban international returned to the Impact in the offseason after leading the 'Caps to a second USL-1 championship title in three seasons last year. Sebrango was also Vancouver's top goalscorer in 2008, having found the net 16 times in all competitions during the course of the campaign.
35 YEARS PLAYER CARD
The fifth edition of our '35 Years' player cards will be distributed free to the first 1,000 fans that enter Swangard for Sunday's doubleheader. The latest player card will be of former England international midfielder Alan Ball. A FIFA World Cup winner in 1966, Ball was a pivotal member of the Whitecaps side that won the 1979 North American Soccer League championship title.
TWO GAMES REMAINING
Like last season, the Whitecaps and Impact will see a lot of each other during the course of 2009. Vancouver's next two contests versus the Impact will take place at Montreal's Stade Saputo. On Saturday, June 20, both clubs will meet in a special 'Soccer Day in Canada' match-up before their final regular season encounter takes place on Wednesday, September 9.
Sunday's match between the Whitecaps men and Montreal Impact at Swangard Stadium kicks off at 7:00 p.m. PDT and is part of a Whitecaps doubleheader, with the women's team playing Pali Blues in USL W-League action at 4:00 p.m. PDT. Whitecaps individual match tickets start at just $19 and are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca, and by phone at 604.280.4400 or 1.800.663.9311. CLICK HERE for information on our individual match tickets.
You and your family can also enjoy Whitecaps action from 'Boston Pizza Section B' with the purchase of a Boston Pizza/Whitecaps Family Pack. For only $79, you receive four tickets to a Whitecaps match and coupons for one large pizza, four side salads, and four bottomless pop at any Boston Pizza location on the Lower Mainland. CLICK HERE for information on our Boston Pizza/Whitecaps Family Pack.
You can also save over 20 per cent off the regular box office price with the purchase of a 2009 Whitecaps Match Pack. Choose up to five matches at Swangard and be part of the action - even if you can't make all of this season's games. CLICK HERE for information on our Whitecaps Match Packs.
You can also save up to 35 per cent off the single game ticket price with the purchase of a 2009 Whitecaps Group Package. Benefits include reserved seating, a personal ticket representative, group leader incentives, and prize giveaways. Whether your group is 15 or 1,000 people, we can ensure that your Whitecaps experience will be a truly memorable one. CLICK HERE for information on our 2009 Group Packages.
You can also watch Sunday's match between the Whitecaps men and Montreal live on USLlive.com.
USL First Division Stories from June 5, 2009
- Charleston Battery Earn Convincing 2-0 Win Over Austin Aztex - Austin Aztex
- Whitecaps Double-Header This Sunday - Vancouver Whitecaps
- 10,000 Tickets Sold For The Champions Trophy - Montreal Impact
- Timbers Announce Tickets Detaiks for Burnley Exhibition - Portland Timbers
- Stoppage Time Goal Burns Impact - Montreal Impact
- Late Savage Goal Lifts Timbers To Win Over Montreal - Portland Timbers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
