SUMMARY
The win allows the Impact to clinch the regular season championship with three games left.
Midfielder Antonio Ribeiro scored the winning goal, accepting a pass from defender David Fronimadis and firing a perfect shot from 25 yards out, into the top left corner, that beat Whitecaps goalkeeper Josh Wicks.
In the 31st minute, Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton was forced to make a spectacular save, robbing former Impact midfielder Martin Nash. Sutton dove to his left, punching out Nash’s shot that originated from just outside the corner of the box. Sutton earned his league-leading 13th shutout of the season.
In the 57th minute, Ribeiro nearly doubled his team’s lead with a similar shot but the ball rattled off the crossbar.
In the 59th minute, from a Martin Nash corner kick, defender Mauricio Vincello headed the ball off the goal line after it deflected over Sutton who came out to intercept the cross.
In the 76th Midfielder Masahiro Fukasawa made a strong run down the right flank, firing a low shot towards the net in the 76th minute. Forward Charles Gbeke deflected the ball on goal from the six-yard-box, but Wicks was able to block the shot.
In the 89th minute, captain Mauro Biello nearly put the game out of reach when he broke in alone after intercepting a pass by Whitecaps defender Geordie Lyall. Biello dribbled around Lyall on the right side and fired a shot that Wicks punched out to his left.
The Impact has not lost to the Whitecaps in seven meetings (5-0-2).
The Impact clinched the regular-season championship for the fourth time in club history, adding to the titles won in 1995, 1996, and 1997.
With three games remaining and only two losses this season, the Impact will break the club record for least defeats in one season. The previous mark was six losses set back in 1996, 2003, and 2004.
Montreal has now shut out the opposition during the last 297 minutes of play.
Montreal will get a bye straight to the USL D1 semi-finals which will be played September 23 and 25.
De Santis’ squad plays its last home game of the regular season on Sunday, September 4th, against the Minnesota Thunder (4 pm, RDS, CKAC, CJAD).
The Impact will conclude the regular season with two games out West, Friday, September 9th against the Seattle Sounders (10 pm), and Sunday, September 11th, against the Vancouver Whitecaps (7 pm).
POST-GAME COMMENTS
Nick De Santis
Mauro Biello
Greg Sutton
IMPACT LINE-UP
Greg Sutton, Gabriel Gervais, Nevio Pizzolitto, Mauricio Vincello, David Fronimadis (Lars Lyssand 40), Patrick Leduc, David DiPlacido, Mesut Mert (Masahiro Fukasawa 71), Antonio Ribeiro, Mauro Biello, Charles Gbeke (Darko Kolic 80)
VANCOUVER LINE-UP
Josh Wicks, Steve Klein, Mark Watson (Carlo Corazzin 80), Martin Nash, Steve Kindel, Alfredo Valente (Joseph Gjertson 54), Geordie Lyall, Iann Fuller (Jeff Clarke 60), Kevin Harmse, Dave Morris (Chris Franks 70), Jason Jordan
GOALS
MTL: Antonio Ribeiro (David Fronimadis) 5
SHOTS
VAN 10 MTL 11
SAVES
VAN 5 MTL 6
FOULS
VAN 9 MTL 15
OFFSIDES
VAN 1 MTL 0
CORNERS
VAN 8 MTL 7
CAUTIONS
VAN: Steve Kindel 19
REFEREES
Steve DePiero, Jean-François Corrivault, Bedik Charchafian, Daniel Belleau
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Source: Patrick Vallée
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
