Oct 02 Vancouver Whitecaps Lose Game and Jay Nolly vs The Montreal Impact

What will it feel like when the Impact play CD Olimpia on October 21st? Thats what a raucous crowd of roughly 11,000, all wearing scarves, toques and mittens at Saputo Stadium was thinking. Soccer, more-so the Impact, is starting to catch on in Montreal. How else could you describe the fact that so many people knowingly showed up, despite the almost freezing wind chill factor to witness the contest between the The Montreal Impact (3rd, 12-12-6; 42 points)  and the Vancouver Whitecaps (2nd, 15-7-8; 53 points) in this first of two semi-final games. Controversy and a second half Montreal goal made it well worth the ticket price and no one left wanting, except perhaps the Impact, who despite were up a man for most of the 2nd half, defeated the Whitecaps by a score of 1-0.

A match between these two teams could always feel like a home game, regardless of the city for most of the players. On the Impact side, mid-fielders Joey Gjertsen, David Testo, Tony Donatelli and Sita-Taty Matondo have played for the Whitecaps, while forwards Charles Gbeke and Eduardo Sebrango, as well as midfielder Martin Nash, have played in Montreal.

As per usual, the Impact took the first 12 minutes or so of the game, feeling out their opponents. Also figuring into the equation perhaps was the fact the this Impact team, victims of their own success, have played 13 games in the last month, 5 in the last 10 games. Regardless, it was clear that Montreal would not stay lethargic for long. As they have shown in the past, fatigue is not an option and within that same 12 minutes, had a great chance when Rocco Placentino passed an excellent through ball to Peter Byers before the 18 and of all the choices Byers had with so much time between a shot, a pass and a deke, he chose to deke Vancouver keeper Jay Nolly and lost the battle. Aggressive players for the Imp-act throughout the 1st half were Placentino, Antonio Ribeiro, Peter Byers and Sandro Grande who combined for most of the 5 or 6 other Impact chances of the Montreal dominated half.

But it was to Vancouver's advantage that both teams left the field at half time with the game tied 0-0. An away tie would definitely be a welcomed decision in an aggregate goals home and away series. Impact 'keeper Matt Jordan kept the game a tie in stopping the Whitecaps' only real chance in extra time when he race3d for the ball against a Vancouver forward and slid just inside his 18 to foil the striker's attempt at goal. The ensuing 2 corner kicks were also defended before time was called.

The second half, however would take a Montreal bounce in many senses of the term. Montreal was aggressive on the ball and it paid dividends. At the 51st minute, In a flurry of chances, Sandro Grando took a Antonio Ribeiro rebound at the 30th yard and shot it ground level towards Jay Nolly who bobbled his catch. Enter Ribeiro who came crashing towards Nolly and made contact when he was down. In the ensuing scrum, it would seem the Nolly took offense to the attack decided to reciprocate and complain about it to the referee which in the end, instead of Montreal getting a foul for Ribeiro's action, Nolly received a red card and was ejected from the game. Vancouver would now be down a man for the rest of the game and lost the services of their starting keeper for the night as well as the subsequent game in Vancouver on Sunday.

Montreal tested Tyler Baldock early and came out on top. In the 61st minute, Placentino outplayed two Vancouver  and passed it into the box where Byers was able to find Antonio Ribeiro who booted it past Baldock. Baldock was instrumental in keeping this a 1-0 affair, later being called upon to make two miraculous, back-to-back saves from up close on Placentino and Byers, who must have had and missed at least 5 opportunities to find the netting during this game.

With this 1-nil result, while positive, the impact now head to Vancouver and force the Whitecaps to win by 2 goals to advance, or win by 1 to force overtime. A loss and Montreal advances to the USL finals next week.

Tune in to "The Franchise" on AM 1690 CJLO this Sunday from 8:30-10:30 to hear our commentary on the Impact week that was, as well as many post-game clips from players and coach John Limniatis.

Speaking of John Limniatis, it is to note that he is up for the league’s Coach of the Year award. Limniatis led the team to third place in the USL D1 regular season and a subsequent playoff spot after bringing up the rear in the standings upon his arrival. The Impact had a 10-6-4 record since he joined the team June 10. Another finalist is Puerto Rico Islanders head coach Colin Clarke, whose Islanders finished 1st overall. The coaches and the general managers of the USL First Division will select the winners.

The Impact will fly to Vancouver Saturday afternoon to play the second and decisive game of the series Sunday at Swangard Stadium, in Burnaby, near Vancouver (6:30 pm, FSW, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990). The Impact will then travel from Vancouver to Trinidad-and-Tobago Monday to play its next CONCACAF Champions League game Wednesday against Joe Public FC.


IMPACT SEMI-FINAL GAMES
• Sunday, October 5 – IMPACT @ Vancouver – 6:30 pm (FSW, THE TEAM 990, CKAC Sports)

IMPACT IN THE CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE
• Wednesday, October 8 – IMPACT @ Joe Public – Trinidad & Tobago
- Live at 8 pm: bold TV, CBCSports.ca, Radio-Canada.ca/sports
- Tape delayed: CBC (midnight)

• Tuesday, October 21 – CD Olimpia @ IMPACT
- Live at 8 pm: Radio-Canada.ca/sports, bold TV, CBCSports.ca, CKAC Sports
- Tape delayed: Radio-Canada (11:45 pm), CBC (midnight)

• Tuesday, October 28 – IMPACT @ Atlante FC – Mexico
- Live at 10 pm: bold TV, CBCSports.ca, Radio-Canada.ca/sports
- Tape delayed CBC (midnight)

Tags: Antonio-Ribeiro \ Jay-Nolly \ John-Limniatis \ Montreal-Impact \ Peter-Byers \ Rocco-Placentino \ Sandro-Grande \ Semi-Final \ USL \ Vancouver-Whitecaps