Whitecaps lose 1-0 to the Montreal Impact
September 11, 2005 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
The Whitecaps suffered their first home defeat of the year, but it took the best team in the league, on the very last game of the regular season to do it. Montreal striker Eduardo Sebrango, who played for Vancouver in 1999, scored the game's only goal in the 10th minute. The game was played before an overflow crowd of 6,192, the sixth sellout this season, and the largest for a regular season game since the 2001 home-opener.
The result had no playoff implications, as the position of all six playoff team's had already been settled heading into Sunday's action.
The Whitecaps now prepare for their two-game, total-goal playoff series against the Richmond Kickers, with the first game on Friday, September 16 in Virgina, and the return match on Sunday, September 18 at Swangard Stadium, in a 7:00pm kick-off. The winner of that series will advance to face the second place Rochester Raging Rhinos in the two-game semi-finals the following week.
The Whitecaps finish the regular season with a record of 12-7-9 and 45 points, putting them in third place. Montreal topped the table at 18-3-7 for 61 points. The Impact have a first round bye and await the winner of the Seattle-Portland series.
Scoring Summary:
10' Mont Eduardo Sebrango (Lars Lyssand) Lyssand intercepted a pass intended for Martin Nash, and broke in to lead a three-on-two. He dished to Sebrango on the right, and the former Cuban international got behind the defence by a step, and fired it low past Josh Wicks from 14 yards.
Game Notes:
Montreal's league-leading defence carried the day, as the Whitecaps had trouble generating good scoring opportunities. Montreal's Greg Sutton, who is now the league's top goalkeeper for the third straight year, was forced to make a good save at 17' off a rising blast from Jason Jordan at the edge of the area. Vancouver came close again just two minutes later when Kevin Harmse misfired on a header from good position.
At 25' Josh Wicks made a good reaction save to stop a powerful point-blank volley from Montreal captain Mauro Biello, who was left unmarked in front to first-time a looping diagonal cross from the right.
Montreal almost doubled the lead at 57' as the Caps couldn't clear the area, and the ball bounced to Masahiro Fukasawa, who thundered a shot off the crossbar from 15 yards.
Jason Jordan had an opportunity at 70' as he turned on a bouncing ball between two defenders 10-yards out, but had his shot blocked. The final chance on goal was Carlo Corazzin's at 87', but his flicked header from a corner kick was grabbed just under the crossbar by Greg Sutton, who did well not to carry the ball over the line as he tumbled to the ground.
Jason Jordan finished as the league's top scorer with 17 goals and three assists for 37 points, making this Jordan's best ever season, and the highest point total for a Vancouver player since Niall Thompson led the league in 1999 with 20 goals and seven assists.
Prior to the game, Jordan was presented with the Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot award as Vancouver's top scorer, while Steve Kindel was given the Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero Award, determined by fan voting.
This was Martin Nash's 34th consecutive game, and his 100th career start for Vancouver.
Vancouver's home record finishes at 9-1-4, second best in the league behind Montreal's mark of 10-1-3.
USL First Division Stories from September 11, 2005
- Lynx Wrap Up Season - Toronto Lynx
- Whitecaps lose 1-0 to the Montreal Impact - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Mariners Fall to Rochester 3-1 - Virginia Beach Mariners
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