With the tie, the Impact remains undefeated in its last nine games (5-0-4) and remains in third place overall in USL D1 standings, with 23 points, three points behind the league-leading Whitecaps. The Impact, however, has six games in hand.
The Impact put a lot of pressure on the Vancouver defense in the second half, out-shooting the Whitecaps 16-5.
Goalkeeper Andrew Weber, who started his sixth game following Greg Sutton’s injury to his index finger, remains undefeated (3-0-3).
Montreal has not lost in its last nine games against the Whitecaps (6-0-3) and leads 13-3 in goals during that stretch.
The crowd of 12,435 fans was the best of the season and the third largest in Impact history for a regular-season game. It’s also the third time this season the Impact attracted more than 12,000 spectators.
The Impact will conclude its stretch at home on Tuesday, July 11, against the Toronto Lynx (7:30 pm, CJAD 800, Sport Plus XM-172).
THE GOAL
21st minute – Following a failed clearing attempt by the Impact, Whitecaps defender Adrian Cann recuperated the ball and slipped it back to defender Steve Kindel, who took a powerful shot from 25 yards that beat goalkeeper Andrew Weber in the top left corner.
90th minute - On a corner kick by midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo, who was playing his first game since May 28, defender Mauricio Vincello headed the ball, beating goalkeeper Josh Wicks to his right.
HIGHLIGHTS
12th minute – Impact midfielder Lars Lyssand got the first scoring chance of the game when his shot from 30 yards sailed to the right of the Whitecaps net.
13th minute – Deep on the left flank, Impact defender Mauricio Vincello centered the ball to Joel Bailey, rushing to the net. Bailey redirected the ball with a header just over the crossbar.
54th minute – On a free kick by Patrick Leduc, Whitecaps goalkeeper Josh Wicks came out but failed to control the ball. Defender Nevio Pizzolitto jumped on the rebound with a tap into the open net but the ball was cleared on the line by two Vancouver defenders. Mauro Biello recuperated the ball but his shot, partially blocked, went wide.
56th minute – Following a centering pass from Mauricio Vincello, Daniel Antoniuk headed the ball just on top of the crossbar.
POST GAME COMMENTS
HEAD COACH NICK DE SANTIS
«In the first half, the Whitecaps scored following a mistake on our part. Things weren’t going the way we wanted. Luckily, in the second half, things got better and we took control of the midfield. We didn’t steal this tie tonight. »
DEFENDER MAURICIO VINCELLO
« We had numerous scoring chances and we finally capitalized at the end to tie the game up. I went into the box and Leonardo (Di Lorenzo) gave me a nice centering pass. We earned an important point tonight.»
DEFENDER GABRIEL GERVAIS
« It was an emotional game from start to finish. The Whitecaps played a very defensive style after their goal. But we never gave up. We were the best team on the field and we didn’t deserve to lose. »
MISSING FROM THE LINE-UP
Team – Player – Position - Reason
MTL – Antonio Ribeiro (M) – hamstring – day to day
MTL – Greg Sutton (G) – finger - return date TBD TBD
MTL – David Fronimadis (D) – knee - return date TBD
NEXT GAMES
Tue. July 11 - Toronto Lynx @ Impact - Claude-Robillard Sports Complex - 7:30 pm
Sat. July 15 - Impact @ Seattle Sounders - Qwest Field - 10 pm
Sun. July 16 - Impact @ Vancouver Whitecaps - Swangard Stadium - 10 pm
GAME SUMMARY
Impact line-up
Andrew Weber, Gabriel Gervais, Nevio Pizzolitto, Adam Braz (Darko Kolic 77), Mauricio Vincello, Lars Lyssand (Zé Roberto 45), Patrick Leduc (Leonardo Di Lorenzo 63), Kirk Wilson (Mesut Mert 81), Masahiro Fukasawa (Daniel Antoniuk 52), Mauro Biello, Joel Bailey
Vancouver line-up
Josh Wicks, Jeff Clarke, Steve Klein (Tony Donatelli 40), Adrian Cann, Jay Alberts (Sita-Taty Matondo 61), Martin Nash, Steve Kindel, Dave Testo (Diaz Kambere 89), Geordie Lyall, Joey Gjertsen (John Jones 67), Dave Morris
The goals
VAN: Steve Kindel (Adrian Cann) 21
MTL: Mauricio Vincello (Leonardo Di Lorenzo) 90
Statistics: Vancouver - Impact
Shots: 5-16
Saves: 8-3
Fouls: 18-15
Offsides: 1-3
Corners: 5-4
Cautions
VAN: Geordie Lyall 35
MTL: Nevio Pizzolitto 49
MTL: Kirk Wilson 73
MTL: Gabriel Gervais 84
Officials
Domenic Scali, Daniel Belleau, Jonathan Lavergne, Tiger Liu
-30-
Source : Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info : 514-328-3668 Ext. 27
