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Posted by
Harjeet Johal,
June 4, 2015 |
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@HarJournalist
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The Vancouver Whitecaps kicked off a 5 game road trip with BC Place transformed into a FIFA Women's World Cup venue. The Caps have shown strong resilience on the road this season. They battled the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo in what was an exciting match with late game heroics for the Impact. Frank Klopas and the Impact earned their first MLS victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps thanks to a 2-1 win and goals from Jack McInerney and Ignacio Piatti.
Pedro Morales cancelled out the first Impact goal when he converted a penalty kick in the the 79' minute. Piatti was in the right spot at the right time as he was fed a lovely pass from Andres Romero in front of goal. Montreal was the better team on this occasion and did well to keep the Vancouver Whitecaps out of sorts for much of the match. The Impact deserved all three points.
The Opening 45
The Whitecaps caused themselves an unnecessary problem before the match kicked off. Carl Robinson and his staff did not pencil in Diego Rodriguez into the starting lineup quick enough. Vancouver was forced to use a sub before the match started. Pa-Modou Kah was in the original team sheet for the Whitecaps and was supposed to be taken out before the start.
Montreal was without Kenny Cooper and suspended Italian international Marco Donadel. Former Vancouver Whitecaps protagonist Nigel Reo-Coker found himself on the bench to start the match. Reo-Coker had been playing right-back for Montreal during the impressive CONCACAF Champions League run that Montreal went on earlier this year.
The Whitecaps unexpected back-line gave up an early goal after some confusion in front of David Ousted. Laurent Ciman sent his shot off the Caps crossbar. As he searched for the rebound, Ousted looked the wrong way. 'Jack Mac' pounced on the gift and hammered the uncontrolled rebound past a shocked Ousted and his teammates. Montreal capitalized on an early blunder.
Vancouver had trouble adjusting to the up tempo Montreal Impact. Matias Laba and Russell Teibert weren't doing enough to link up with Rosales, Mezquida, Manneh, and striker Darren Mattocks. The Impact ran laps around the Whitecaps.
At one point Kekuta Manneh looked to have evened the score-line with a timely run past the Impact. His sprint and eventual goal was called back because he was offside. Darren Mattocks struck the post before the interval, but overall Montreal was the better side in the opening forty-five. The Impact pushed Vancouver back and caused plenty of turnovers in the early going,
Going into the break, Montreal held a 1-0 advantage and a possession margin of 59% - 41%. The visitors had 6-1 corners and only contributed 1 shot on target, while Montreal had a pair of shots on target.
The Second Half
Just before the second half kicked off, word came down that Vancouver would now be given three substitutions instead of the previously thought pair. Vancouver made a huge clerical error and was lucky to be let off the hook.
Diego Rodriguez picked up the first card of the match after a clumsy foul outside the Vancouver box. Ambroise Oyongo stepped up and sent his effort on goal well over the Vancouver net.
Vancouver looked to get going offensively, but had no finish in the final third. The trio of corners Vancouver had in the first 15' minutes of the second half did not generate enough opportunities to score the equalizer. Kendall Waston had a weak headed effort on goal and moments later Kekuta Manneh had an ambitious effort go far from distance.
Andres Romero had a lovely chance to double the Impact lead in the 62'. His give and go with Jack McInerney created terrific open space to cut towards the Whitecaps net. David Ousted was forced to come up with a fingertip save.
Both Managers decided to make their first substitution at the 63' minute mark. Carl Robinson went with a swap of Uruguayans as Nicolas Mezquida made way for Cristian Techera. Maxim Tissot entered the match for midfielder Eric Alexander.
The Gatineau, Quebec native had his own wonderful chance to add an insurance tally for the Impact in the 67' minute. Ignacio Piatti freed up space for Tissot who delivered a shot on target from the left flank, forcing Ousted to make another save.
Whitecaps leading goalscorer Octavio Rivero was the second substitute for the visiting side in the 70'. He came on for Mauro Rosales as Carl Robinson looked to add a much needed boost of offensive energy for his offensively struggling team.
With his last substitution, skipper Pedro Morales was brought into the match for Russell Teibert in the 73' minute.
Nigel Reo-Coker got his opportunity to step onto the pitch against the team that gave him his first shot in Major League Soccer. With that familiar Re0-Coker grin, he stepped onto the pitch for Jack McInerney in the 78' minute. Much to his recent form of play, it didn't take long for Vancouver to find the tying goal.
Jordan Harvey was brought down in the area after having his heel clipped by Andres Romero. Referee Armando Villarreal pointed to the spot and awarded the Vancouver Whitecaps a moment to equalize the match and perhaps earn a crucial point.
Pedro Morales delivered from the spot as he sent his shot right down the middle. Evan Bush dove to his right and had no chance to come up with a timely save in the 79' minute.
Just when it looked like both teams would play the final 10' minutes playing for an eventual and well fought draw, the Montreal Impact scored a great goal to take back the lead and squash the hopes of the Whitecaps and their visiting supporters.
Andres Romero had all sorts of time and space to waltz into the Vancouver Whitecaps box. With no Caps defender up to challenge him he set up Argentine dynamo Ignacio Piatti. The 30 year-old made no mistake from in close as he beat the Whitecaps Danish keeper. Vancouver was caught napping at a crucial juncture of the match and it cost them.
Whitecaps FC Man of the Match
Pedro Morales has always been consistent as a penalty specialist since his arrival to MLS. Pedro may not score as much as he should from the run of play, but he has always been money from the spot. You always want your skipper to lead by example and his calm, cool, resolve helped the Whitecaps momentarily equalize the match.
Montreal Impact Man of the Match
Andres Romero was creating havoc for much of the match. He was setting up his teammates at every opportunity. He was instrumental in Piatti's match winner and he was buzzing all evening. He made up for his foul on Jordan Harvey and helped Montreal earn an important home victory over the surging Vancouver Whitecaps.
Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted; Tim Parker, Kendall Waston, Diego Rodríguez, Jordan Harvey; Matias Laba, Russell Teibert(C) (Pedro Morales 74); Mauro Rosales (Octavio Rivero 70), Nicoals Mezquida (Cristian Techera 63), Kekuta Manneh; Darren Mattocks. (4-2-3-1)
Montreal Impact Starting XI: Evan Bush; Donny Toia, Wandrille Lefevre, Laurent Ciman, Ambroise Oyongo; Calum Mallace, Patrice Bernier(C) (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 81); Andres Romero, Ignacio Piatti, Eric Alexander (Maxim Tissot 63); Jack McInerney (Nigel Reo-Coker 78). (4-2-3-1)
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