May 19 Vancouver Whitecaps Score Early, Defeat Montreal Impact 2-0 in Nutrilite Championship Game

"One game at a time" said Marc Dos Santos of the next two home and away games against the Vancouver Whitecaps in defence of their Nutrilite Championship title. With Toronto FC already ahead with six points after consecutive wins against both teams, it was definitely a must-win situation for both teams if they wanted to remain in the points race but it would be Vancouver who would strike first and fast en route to a 2 goal first half and a 2-0 victory at Saputo Stadium.

If  Montreal could envision a worst possible scenario, it was realised as early as the first 34 seconds into the game. In what could only be described as lackadaisical coverage, the Impact allowed Whitecap Marcus Faber to stroll into the box and even with Nevio Pizzolitto giving chase, Faber timed his move as Matt Jordan came out to defend and chipped a shot past Jordan and into the goal. Montreal would respond in kind only a few moments later with Eduardo Sebrango receiving a pass in the box as he snuck in but Whitecaps 'keeper Jay Nolly made a diving catch to calm the Impact faithful.

The Whitecaps were very aggressive and creative with the ball, finding several ways to beat Impact defenders inside the Montreal touch point. Just as Roberto Brown was assessed a yellow card for delay of game, the Whitecaps quickly got the ball out of their zone and before Brown or any of his teammates knew it, former Impact forward Charles Gbeke found himself in the box to Jordan's left and easily headed a Takashi Hirano pass past Jordan to bring the 'Caps lead to 2-0.

The 27th minute produced a would-be streaker that hopped onto the pitch, giving the fans the only thing to cheer about until this point, but even the streaker fell short, as she was caught by security guards and escorted off the premises.

Montreal, seemingly inspired by the unscheduled entertainment, made a beautiful, methodical approach towards the Whitecaps goal and in what can only be described as amazing and unfortunate, Rocco Placentino crossed the ball into the box from the left corner and BOTH Roberto Brown and Joey Gjertsen missed their chances, hitting the crossbar both times before the ball was kicked out of play.

Third time's a charm, so they say. At the 36th minute, Montreal was given a free kick opportunity when Sebrango was hauled down at the 30 yard mark. On the ensuing kick, Placentino managed to clear the wall of men, beat Jay Nolly, but  not the crossbar that stopped the shot. Simon Gatti almost got his second goal in as many games in extra time when the ball dribbled out of the 18 but saw his precise, low shot caught by a diving Jay Nolly.

And thus was the story for the first half. Two quick goals by the Whitecaps and then a fruitless onslaught by the Impact that the Whitecaps weathered with the help of the Crossbars.

Second half action saw a more aggressive Impact team attempting as many shots on goal as possible with the Whitecaps countering with a game of keep-away any time they had possession of the ball. Both Simon Gatti and Joey Gjertsen made valiant efforts to put the Impact up on the board, but their attempts either sailed wide or high, as did Roberto Brown's header at the 65th minute as he was inside the Whitecaps' box. His touch would have easily beat Nolly, but tonight seemed to be a night where the inches were against the Montreal Impact. 

Jay Nolly made a phenomenal save against Sebrango in the 73rd minute to preserve his shutout bid. Félix Brillant shook off two defenders inside the 18 and found Sebrango, but Nolly, square to the shot, made the save. Nolly again looked sharp ath the 78th as he won a foot race between him and Stephen deRoux to thwart deRoux's attempt at breaking the ice for Montreal.

MAtt Jordan was equally sharp at the 82nd minute when Justin Moose was left all alone to Jordan's right. Moose streaked in on Jordan, cut to the inside and forced Jordan to dive, getting a hand on the ball that would have otherwise brought the Whitecaps total to 3.

Credit to the Whitecaps who were able to capitalise on their scoring chances and then weather any kind of Montreal attacks, however, one has to wonder if one of those crossbars had an Impact bounce to them, if the outcome would have been different. But soccer is a game of few goals and just one missed opportunity usually results in an outcome that the Impact had tonight.

Montreal will now have a week to regroup, retool and rethink their strategy for their next meet with this same Whitecaps team in Vancouver next Wednesday night. While they are still not mathematically eliminated, anything short of a win, will surely take care care of that. 

Tags: Charles Gbeke \ concacaf \ Eduardo Sebrango \ Jay Nolly \ Matt Jordan \ Montreal Impact \ Roberto Brown \ toronto FC \ USL \ Vancouver Whitecaps