“Two tactical defensive errors in the first twenty minutes of the game cost us the win, but the players had an excellenet attitude as they tried to come back to win,” said Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. “I am proud of the team today because we never panicked and we reacted well to a situation that was unpredictable. We had at least 15 scoring chances and three crossbars, but there are days like that, when the ball just doesn’t go in. We should not forget that the team was playing a fourth game in eight days.”
The Whitecaps opened the score in the first minute of play. Forward Marcus Haber, who had accepted a deep pass from midfielder Gordon Chin, fired a shot to the far post from inside the penalty box, which beat Impact goalkeeper to his left. It was the first time in club history that a goal was conceded in the first minute of play.
Forward Charles Gbeke, a former Impact player, doubled the lead at the 17th minute. On the sequence that was initiated on the left flank, defender Takashi Hirano made a cross to the second post for Gbeke, who deflected it with a header, beating Jordan to the far post.
“Except for the two goals early on, we completely dominated the game,” noted defender Adam Braz. “It’s always tougher to pull through when you concede two goals at the start of the game. It’s not always easy to create chances against a good team like Vancouver.”
The Impact came close to narrowing the gap to one goal at the 31st minute. After a sequence initiated by midfielder Rocco Placentino on the left flank, both Joey Gjertsen, with a high shot, and Roberto Brown, taking the rebound with a header, consecutively hit the crossbar.
Then six minutes later, midfielder Rocco Placentino took a powerful 30-meter free kick that went directly on the crossbar.
Although the Impact dominated the game 18-6 in shots, goalkeeper Matt Jordan stood out in the second half, notably at the 81st minute, by diving and saving with his fingertips a high shot by Justin Moose.
Midfielder David Testo missed the game against Vancouver due to an automatic one-game suspension, following his ejection from the game in Toronto.
On May 13, Montreal had lost its first game of the tournament 1-0 against Toronto FC (MLS) at BMO Field.
“It isn’t over for us. We keep our hopes up and we will fight until the end. It’s still possible, so we have to believe in it,” concluded Dos Santos.
The Montreal Impact will play its second game against the Whitecaps in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship next Wednesday, at Swangard Stadium, in Vancouver (live at 10:30 pm: Sportsnet; taped delayed at 11 pm: Radio-Canada).
HIGHLIGHTS
4th minute – After accepting a pass from Roberto Brown, forward Eduardo Sebrango took a low shot that deflected on a Whitecaps defender before goalkeeper Jay Nolly made the save.
10th minute – Midfielder Ethan Gage accepted a pass behind the Montreal defense, but his low shot went to the left of the Impact goal.
45th minute – On a series of passes in the Whitecaps offensive third, followed by a poor clearing from the defense, Simon Gatti took a right foot shot that Vancouver goalkeeper Nolly stopped by diving to his right.
71st minute - Forward Eduardo Sebrango fired a point blank shot that goalkeeper Nolly stopped by diving. Félix Brillant was then unable to take a dangerous shot on the rebound.
79th minute – After accepting a pass from Roberto Brown, Stephen deRoux fired a strong shot that Nolly stopped by diving to the ground.
NEXT GAMES
• Wednesday, May 27 – IMPACT @ Vancouver – Swangard Stadium (live at 10:30 pm: Sportsnet; taped delayed at 11 pm: Radio-Canada)
• Saturday, May 30 – IMPACT @ Rochester – Paetec Park – 7:35 pm (USLlive.com)
• Thursday, June 4 – IMPACT @ Portland – PGE Park – 10 pm (USLlive.com)
Nutrilite Canadian Championship
GAME SUMMARY
PHOTOS PÉPÉ AT SAPUTO STADIUM
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (Ext. 227)
