The four Canadian teams (Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver) are facing each other in two semifinal home-and-away aggregate goal series. The two winning teams will play in the tournament final and will fight for a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League.
“We don’t want to give anything to Vancouver and find solutions to create scoring chances and convert them into goals,” said Impact captain Nevio Pizzolitto, who has played eight career games in the Canadian championship. “Even though we're not the favourite team, we are confident that we can win this semifinal. Everyone can talk today but the game is played on the field.”
“I’m expecting the Whitecaps to come out hard and put pressure on us so it will be important to have good possession of the ball,” said left back Zurab Tsiskaridze, who played 26 games with the Whitecaps in 2010. It will be an important game and we don’t want to concede any goal.”
After losing its first two games on the road, the Impact and FC Tampa Bay played to a 0-0 draw, last Saturday, in the home opener at Saputo Stadium
“I don’t think we are a real team yet,” said Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. “To be a team you need to help your teammate and you need to suffer for him. The level of difficulty will be high Wednesday. We could become a true team if we get a positive result. Our group will be even stronger for the coming weeks.”
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC are playing their first season in Major League Soccer (MLS).
In their last regular season game, the 7th of the campaign, the Whitecaps lost 2-1 to FC Dallas, Saturday, in their 7th season match. Quebec-born and Swiss international Alain Rochat scored the only goal for Vancouver in that loss.
Forward Camilo is currently tied for most goals in MLS with three goals, while his teammate midfielder Davide Chiumiento leads the league with five assists.
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC are still under the helm of Icelandic head coach Teitur Thordarson.
The two clubs faced each other several times in the last few years.
"It will be an exciting game for us," said midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo, who played in the tournament the previous three years. "There is a great Canadian rivalry between both clubs and it's always a great challenge to play against an MLS team. Everytime we play against each other, something happens.”
On the Montreal side, forward Reda Agourram (thigh) and midfielder Hassoun Camara (thigh) are not available du to injuries.
Defenders Richard Pelletier and Hicham Aaboubou will be available to play in the Canadian Championship. They are both serving a suspension in the NASL, following incidents that occurred after the second leg of the semi-final series in Carolina last year.
Ontarian forward Marco Terminesi will not be back with the club. The Impact decided on Tuesday not to renew his contract for the 2011 season. In 2010, he registered one assist in seven games.
Good tickets for Wednesday's game are still available through the Admission network (admission.com / 514-790-1245) or at the Saputo Stadium ticketing office.
Season tickets are still available for the 2011 season via the Impact’s website (impactmontreal.com) and the club’s sales offices at 514-328-3668. All season ticket holders for 2011 will automatically be given seating priority for the 2012 season in Major League Soccer (MLS) by reserving their seats with a $50 reimbursable deposit.
OTHER FACTS
• After winning the title in 2008, the Impact has not been able to win the tournament in 2009 and 2010. The first title led the Impact to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal round against Mexican club Santos Laguna. On February 25, 2009 the Impact played in front of 55,571 spectators at Olympic Stadium.
• Last year, the Impact was shut out 2-0 on April 28 in Toronto, tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1, May 5 at Swangard Stadium, lost again against the Toronto FC 1-0 on May 12 at Saputo Stadium and tied Vancouver 1-1 in Montreal on May 26.
• The Voyageurs Cup is awarded to the top Canadian professional club since 2002. The Impact won this trophy for seven consecutive years, from 2002 to 2008.
UPCOMING MATCHES
• Sunday, May 1 – IMPACT @ FC Edmonton – Foote Field – 21:35pm (fcedmonton.com)
• Wednesday, May 5 – IMPACT @ Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Empire Field – 11pm (Rogers Sportsnet ONE)
• Wednesday, May 11 – New York Red Bulls @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 19:30pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports)
• Saturday, May 14 – Carolina RailHawks @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 2:30pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports)
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