Jeff Clarke (37th minute) and Eduardo Sebrango (41st minute) scored for the Whitecaps near the end of the first half.
"We didn't do anything in the first half and finally woke up in the second half, but it was too late. We had already given them the match," said Impact head coach John Limniatis. "The players who were fresh and well-rested brought nothing to this game. You can't win a match if you're always second on the ball, and you can't advance to a final if you don't give everything you have on the pitch."
"We didn't believe in what we were doing in the first half," noted defender Nevio Pizzolitto. "We were just waiting for them and they came at us with two goals. The guys have worked really hard as of late, but tonight the result just isn't what we had hoped for."
Whitecaps central defender Jeff Clarke opened the scoring in the 37th minute. He took a pass from defender Steve Kindel, dribbled over a few metres into the slot, and unleashed a powerful shot from about 30 metres that beat a diving Matt Jordan to his right.
A few minutes later, from the goal line beside the Impact net, Whitecaps forward Charles Gbeke passed the ball toward striker Eduardo Sebrango, who deflected it over the head of Matt Jordan.
"This loss leaves a really sour taste," said defender Adam Braz. "We've worked so hard this season but tonight we weren't the better team. You can't win a match if you're thinking about how tired you are. You have to forget about that."
Playing its 20th match in only 59 days, the Impact also picked up its fifth consecutive playoff loss on the road.
"This is reality. When you play a bunch of matches and you travel so much, it's very difficult," stated team captain Mauro Biello. « But, our schedule is just like that and it's no excuse because Vancouver was the better team tonight. Now, we have to forget about this match and concentrate on the CONCACAF Champions League and our next match on Wednesday."
Impact midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo missed a second consecutive match due to a light concussion he suffered in Honduras last Wednesday.
This was the seventh meeting between Montreal and Vancouver this season, with the Impact posting a 3-3-1 record versus its Canadian rivals.
In 2006, the Impact was also eliminated by the Whitecaps in the semi-finals, 2-0 on total goals.
The Impact will leave Vancouver on Monday at noon, en route to Port of Spain, in Trinidad & Tobago. Montreal plays its next game of the CONCACAF Champions League group stage against Joe Public FC on Wednesday night.
In the other semi-final, the Puerto Rico Islanders also advanced to the USL First Division championship final, scoring in the last minute of the second half of overtime, Sunday, in the return leg of their series against Rochester. The Islanders eliminated the Rhinos 3-2 on total goals, after having lost the series-opener 2-0 on Friday.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
20th minute – Impact midfielder Sandro Grande took a low shot from about 35 metres out that missed just left of the Whitecaps net.
24th minute – Whitecaps forward Eduardo Sebrango headed a ball crossed into the box by midfielder Ethan Gage, missing to the left of the Impact net.
51st minute – Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan advanced to block a lob by Sebrango, who had found himself in a dangerous one-on-one position.
78th minute – Impact midfielder David Testo uncorked a powerful shot from about 20 metres out, but Whitecaps goalkeeper Tyler Baldock made the save while falling to his knees.
85th minute – Whitecaps defender Takashi Hirano headed a cross from midfielder Alfredo Valente, hitting the post to the left of Matt Jordan.
90th minute – From the top of the box, Impact midfielder Tony Donatelli took a screened shot that curved just left of the Whitecaps net.
PHOTOS PÉPÉ
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Source : Patrick Vallée, Impact de Montréal
Info : 514-328-3668 (poste 227)
