Whitecaps FC Set For Canadian Championship
May 4, 2010 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - As the second week of the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship begins, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (0W-0L-0D) look to start their tournament campaign off in positive fashion when they host USSF D-2 Pro League rivals Montreal Impact (0W-0L-1D) at Swangard Stadium on Wednesday night.
Teitur Thordarson's side will look to last season's disappointment in the three-club competition, as well as their five defeats to the Impact in the 2009 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) season, as motivation for the midweek showdown. They host a Montreal side that can ill-afford another tournament defeat following last week's 2-0 loss at Toronto FC. With the Voyageurs Cup holders taking pole position in the tournament at this early stage, both sides must look for all three points in Burnaby, BC.
Wednesday's match between the Whitecaps and Montreal Impact at Swangard kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT. Whitecaps FC individual match tickets start at $20, plus applicable service charges, and are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca, and by phone at 604.280.4400 or 1.800.663.9311. Visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets for more information on individual match tickets.
WHITECAPS FC
No side likes to lose a game of soccer, not the least Whitecaps head coach Thordarson. Yet, last Thursday's league defeat to the Timbers in Portland may be remembered more for how well the Blue and White performed in the difficult and inhospitable confines of PGE Park. If not for some superb finishing by in-form Portland midfielder Ryan Pore, the Whitecaps could have easily gone into Wednesday's Canadian Championship match with the best record in USSF D-2.
One of the most encouraging aspects of Vancouver's performance in The City of Roses wasthe improved level of cohesiveness in the side, with Thordarson starting to reap the benefits of playing a settled starting XI. With a busy period of Voyageurs Cup and league matches to come this month, 'Caps fans should feel confident that the best is yet to come from the Blue and White.
The Whitecaps will be without French centre back Mouloud Akloul for the next four months following recent surgery to repair the fractured ankle he suffered in last month's home win over Athletic Club of St. Louis. Defender/midfielder Blake Wagner also remains sidelined with a strain in his foot, while winger Nizar Khalfan will also miss the Montreal showdown with a quadriceps muscle problem. Experienced left fullback Takashi Hirano, meanwhile, is nearing his recovery from a pre-season knee injury.
IMPACT
The Impact travel to Vancouver with some weight off of their shoulders following Saturday's league win at home to Puerto Rico Islanders. Their new off-season acquisition in Portuguese midfielder Filipe Soares scored the match winner to put Montreal in the win column for the first time this season. Head coach Marc Dos Santos will hope the month of May is more productive after the Quebec club registered two defeats and a draw in April.
There are several new faces in the Impact squad from the team that defeated Vancouver to win last year's USL-1 championship title. The likes of Joey Gjertsen (San Jose Earthquakes) and Mauro Biello (retired, currently Impact assistant coach) have moved on, while midfielders Soares, Philippe Billy, and Tyler Hemming are some of the new additions at Stade Saputo. Young striker Reda Agourram will also look to have big year after playing for the club's reserve side Trois-Rivières Attak in 2009.
The Impact will be without Roberto Brown for Wednesday's game following his red card for violent conduct in last week's defeat at Toronto FC. On Monday, the Panamanian striker was handed a two-match suspension and a $1,500 fine by the Canadian Soccer Association following last week's sending off. The Impact forward not only misses this week's match, but the May 12 game at home to Toronto FC. The Impact have also suspended Brown for a period yet to be determined by his club.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Wednesday's Canadian Championship match will be the 48th all-time meeting between the Whitecaps and Impact. Montreal currently lead the all-time series of results with 28 wins, 13 defeats, and six draws, with both clubs having first played against each other back in 1993. The Impact's record includes 14 wins, eight defeats, and one draw versus the 'Caps in Vancouver. Since 2008, both clubs have played each other four times in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Montreal won both meetings in the inaugural tournament in 2008 before the Whitecaps returned the favour by winning both contests in 2009.
The midweek clash is also the first of six meetings between Vancouver and Montreal in 2010. Both clubs will meet again at Swangard in USSF D-2 on Saturday, May 15, before they renew their Voyageurs Cup rivalry on Wednesday, May 26, in Montreal. A further three USSF D-2 regular season games will also be played, with Vancouver visiting Montreal's Stade Saputo on Wednesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 28, before hosting the Impact late in the season on Friday, September 24.
NUTRILITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
The third edition of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship has seen changes to the previous two tournaments that were contested between Vancouver, Montreal, and Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. From April 28 to June 2, all six matches are being played on consecutive Wednesday nights and televised on Rogers Sportsnet East and West regions. The Whitecaps tournament schedule sees them host Montreal on Wednesday, then TFC on May 19, before ending their four-match schedule on the road. The Blue and White play the Impact in Montreal on May 26 before taking part in the final match of the 2010 championship versus TFC at Toronto's BMO Field on June 2.
Last Wednesday, TFC made a fine start to this year's tournament with a 2-0 victory over Montreal at BMO Field. Goals by Ty Harden and Chad Barrett earned Preki's side three important points, with the Impact playing the majority of the match with ten men after Brown's sending off. The result leaves Dos Santos' side with little room for error hading into this week's trip to the west coast.
The winner of the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship will not only claim the Voyageurs Cup as champions, but Canada's lone berth in the 2010-11 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League.
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 four former Whitecaps players in their squad. Goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic, midfielders Tony Donatelli and David Testo, as well as striker Eduardo Sebrango were all members of the 2006 USL-1 champion Whitecaps side before heading east to join the Quebec-based outfit.
...THEN BACK TO THE LEAGUE
The Whitecaps will have a quick turnaround following Wednesday's game, as the first-ever visit of NASL Conference rivals Crystal Palace Baltimore to Swangard takes place on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. PT. Tickets for the USSF D-2 regular season clash are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres and online at ticketmaster.ca.
Wednesday's Nutrilite Canadian Championship clash between the Whitecaps and Impact is live on Rogers Sportsnet East and Rogers Sportsnet West at 7:30 p.m. PT.
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
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.
