Whitecaps lose tough one to Montreal, 2-1
June 20, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
MONTREAL, QC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC men suffered a 2-1 away defeat to Canadian rivals Montreal Impact on Saturday afternoon.
First-half goals in the space of five minutes by Rocco Placentino and Roberto Brown led the Impact to a second-straight win over the Whitecaps in USL First Division action at Stade Saputo. Though Marlon James replied for the visitors in the second half, the Quebec-based outfit held on for a second-straight win in USL-1.The result meant Montreal won the regular season series of matches against Vancouver in the league.
Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made three changes to the side that started the 3-2 home win over Miami FC Blues a week ago Friday. Mason Trafford and Marlon James replaced the suspended duo of Wesley Charles and Charles Gbeke in the visitors' starting XI. Trafford partnered Marco Reda in the centre of the Whitecaps backline, while James played alongside Marcus Haber in attack. The other change saw Vicente Arze replace Ansu Toure on the left-hand side of midfield.
Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos, meanwhile, made no less than seven changes to the side that started Thursday's 6-1 home defeat to Major League Soccer club Toronto FC in the final match of the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Jordan returned to the Montreal goal in place of former 'Caps goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic, while in defence, captain Nevio Pizzolitto and fit-again Stefano Pesoli replaced Elkana Mayard and Kevin Sakuda. Three players in Felix Brillant, Sandro Grande, and Placentino came into a five-man Montreal midfield, while Brown played as a lone striker for the home side.
On an overcast day in Montreal, the Whitecaps made a lively start to the all-Canadian contest before the Impact finished the opening half as the stronger side.
Playing in their away strip of all blue, the 'Caps early dominance was reflected by the number of corners they won. On four minutes, Arze rolled a shot wide of the target from one of those Vancouver corners, while James was not far away with a well-driven strike after taking Martin Nash's forward ball before cutting inside to tee up his shot from the left flank.
Yet, for all their pressure, Jordan was not tested in the Montreal goal. He made routine saves from a James header and Haber's chipped strike at goal, while at the other end, the visitors had a bit of a scare on the quarter-hour mark when Reda knocked Placentino's cross just wide of his near post.
With little to separate the two clubs, the match started to even out as a contest through the midway stages of the first half. On 23 minutes, Arze forced a nice save from Jordan with a low shot, while Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly made an easy save from Grande's free kick from the left.
Then on 34 minutes, Montreal stunned the 'Caps by taking the lead through a fine left-footed strike from Placentino. Whitecaps players were looking for an offside decision after the ball was played back into the Vancouver box to Brown. 'Caps defender Wes Knight initially dispossessed the Impact striker, but the ball fell kindly to Placentino, who powerfully hit his shot off the inside of the far post and into the net for 1-0.
The goal breathed new life and energy into the Impact, and on 37 minutes, Brillant nearly caught Nolly out with a deep cross from the right.
Two minutes later, Montreal doubled the lead following a fine forward passing move. Former Whitecaps midfielder David Testo slipped a through ball to an unmarked Placentino on the left flank. Having eluded the attentions of Knight, Placentino raced to the byline before cutting the ball back right in front of goal to Brown. The Panamanian marksman was then able to turn with ease and beat Nolly to make it 2-0.
It was a sudden turn of events for the 'Caps, though they tried to get a goal back before halftime, but Ethan Gage drilled a shot high and wide from distance after taking a Takashi Hirano pass from the left on 41 minutes. Four minutes later, the visitors struck the woodwork twice from Nash's free kick from the right. James initially headed the Vancouver captain's set-piece against the crossbar before Reda headed the rebound off the far post.
It meant the Impact took a two-goal lead to the break - much to the delight of the home fans.
USL First Division Stories from June 20, 2009
- Miami FC Wins Third Game in a Row - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Battery drops second straight - Charleston Battery
- City Stars Drop 1-0 Decision To Miami FC - Cleveland City Stars
- Whitecaps lose tough one to Montreal, 2-1 - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Impact notches 2-1 victory over Vancouver - Montreal Impact
- Thunder Break Three Game Winning Streak with 5-1 Loss to Portland Timbers - Minnesota Thunder
- Timbers Rattle Thunder, Win 5-1 - Portland Timbers
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