Whitecaps FC Return to Montreal
July 27, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - In the first game of five consecutive matches on the road, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (W7-3L-9D) make their third visit of the year to Stade Saputo to take on Canadian arch-rivals Montreal Impact (6W-7L-5D) in the USSF D-2 Pro League on Wednesday evening.
Having wrapped up a four-match home stand on the weekend, Teitur Thordarson's side will spend the next month away from home, with the Blue and White facing two tough NASL Conference showdowns this week. They meet a new-look Impact side that are hoping to close the gap on conference leaders Vancouver following a less than stellar first half of the season.
Wednesday's match between Whitecaps FC and Montreal Impact from Stade Saputo in Montreal, Quebec, kicks off at 4:30 p.m. PT. Whitecaps fans can watch this week's contest live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
WHITECAPS FC
After a less than satisfactory home stand that saw the 'Caps register a 1W-1L-2D record, Thordarson's side are keen to rekindle the away form that saw his squad go undefeated in their previous five-match road spell this season. Included in those set of games was a memorable win in Montreal on June 30, as Luca Bellisomo's late strike gave the Whitecaps their first regular season win in Montreal since 2001.
Whitecaps games with the Impact are never short on drama, and Wednesday's match is likely to be no different. Though NSC Minnesota Stars held Vancouver to a point on Sunday, a continuation of the flowing soccer that was seen in recent games at Swangard Stadium is likely to be the order from Thordarson, with his side having successfully attacked teams in their last set of road matches.
Thordarson has taken a squad of 21 players on their two-week road trip that includes matches in North Carolina and St. Louis, Missouri. The squad includes talented youngster Russell Teibert, who just completed the 2010 United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) season with the Whitecaps Residency squad. Centre back Greg Janicki is available after serving one-match suspension against Minnesota on Sunday, as is fellow defender Zurab Tsiskaridze. The left fullback is cleared to play after overcoming a knock to his shin in the weekend draw with the Stars. Centre back Mouloud Akloul (ankle) and striker Randy Edwini-Bonsu (calf), however, have stayed behind in Vancouver for treatment.
IMPACT
It has been a period of turnover and transition for Montreal. By their standards, the 2010 season has not gone according to plan. Considered one of the contenders in USSF D-2 at the start of the season, the Impact still have work to do in order to assure their spot in the playoffs come October. Coupled with another poor showing in this year's Nutrilite Canadian Championship, some predictable roster changes soon took place.
Those to move on from Stade Saputo included defenders Cedric Joqueviel and Stefano Pesoli, as well as Panamanian striker Roberto Brown and Canadian midfielder Tyler Hemming, who was traded to USSF D-2 rivals Austin Aztex this week. Montreal's reinforcements saw the return to the Impact of midfielder Antonio Ribeiro and striker Ali Gerba after the pair completed recent spells in Major League Soccer. The new additions also include last week's signing of former Whitecaps centre back Wesley Charles. The Impact also hope to have Canadian striker Marco Terminesi available after the former Minnesota Thunder man signed for Montreal on Tuesday.
With two wins from their last three home games, Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos is hoping for another positive end-of-season run-in. "I believe we are now in a phase where things are falling into place," Dos Santos told the Impact's official website last week.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Wednesday's clash will be the 52nd all-time meeting between Whitecaps FC and the Impact. Montreal currently lead the all-time series of results with 28 wins, 14 defeats, and nine draws dating back to the 1993 season. Montreal's record includes 14 wins, six defeats, and six draws versus the 'Caps in Montreal.
The midweek clash is also the fifth of six meetings between Vancouver and Montreal in the 2010 season. After Wednesday's match, both clubs will meet for the final time in the USSF D-2 regular season when Vancouver hosts Montreal at Swangard on Friday, September 24.
So far this season, both the Whitecaps and Impact recorded a pair of 1-1 draws in this year's Nutrilite Canadian Championship, while in the league, the two sides drew 0-0 at Swangard on May 15 before the Whitecaps claimed their first regular season victory at Stade Saputo with a 2-1 result on June 30.
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 captain Martin Nash and right fullback Chris Williams that have had previous spells with the Impact. Montreal, meanwhile, have five former Whitecaps players in their squad. Goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic, striker Eduardo Sebrango, and midfielders Tony Donatelli and David Testo were all members of the 2006 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) champion Whitecaps side, while centre back Wesley Charles helped Vancouver to the 2008 USL-1 championship title before heading east to join the Quebec-based outfit.
NEXT STOP: CAROLINA
Vancouver's midweek trip to Montreal will be followed by their last-ever regular season visit to Cary, North Carolina, to take on another NASL Conference rival in Carolina RailHawks on Saturday night. Kickoff from WakeMed Soccer Park is set for 4 p.m. PT and can also be seen live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from July 27, 2010
- Rhinos Win in Carolina - Rochester Rhinos
- RailHawks Fall to Rochester 1-0 - North Carolina FC
- Impact Faces Vancouver Wednesday at Saputo Stadium - Montreal Impact
- Timbers Begin Three-Game Road Trip Wednesday - Portland Timbers
- Whitecaps FC Return to Montreal - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Aztex Add Depth to Midfield with Addition of Hemming - Austin Aztex
- Forward Marco Terminesi Joins Impact - Montreal Impact
- Aztex Affiliate Mississippi Brilla Finish Unbeaten Season; Begin Playoffs This Week - Austin Aztex
- USSF D-2 Standings Remain Tight After Week 16 Matches - USSF D-2
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