MONTREAL, QC – A pair of first-half goals from Montreal Impact spelled the difference as Vancouver Whitecaps FC lost 2-0 at Stade Saputo on Tuesday evening.
For the second consecutive match, Whitecaps FC had six Canadians in the XI, and eight Canadians to see the pitch, both tying club MLS records. The young ‘Caps, who fielded four Homegrown players for the first time in club MLS history, controlled much of the possession game but it was the Impact who capitalized on their chances.
Romell Quioto headed in a pinpoint cross from Saphir Taïder in the 18th minute, then Lassi Lappalainen scored on the counterattack 12 minutes later to give Montreal the two-goal advantage.
Whitecaps FC came inches close to finding the net in the first frame on a direct free kick attempt from Michael Baldisimo, who was solid in his MLS debut.
Canadian MNT teammates Lucas Cavallini and Derek Cornelius were key figures in the second half in a golden chance to draw the ‘Caps closer. Cornelius drew a foul inside the box in a battle for the ball but Cavallini’s penalty attempt was stopped by Impact keeper Clément Diop to keep the ‘Caps scoreless in the 51st minute.
Whitecaps FC, who improved in each outing in their three-match road trip, now head back home to Vancouver aiming to secure points in a homestand versus their fellow Canadian MLS clubs. Their next game is against Toronto FC on Saturday, September 5. The closed-door affair at BC Place kicks off at 6:30 p.m. PT and will be aired live on TSN and TSN Radio 1040.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: Tosaint Ricketts came off the Vancouver bench in the second half. He wore an armband with KOOY on it to honour his friend Chris Kooy. Kooy lost his battle with Stage IV colon cancer on Friday, August 21. Kooy was the first captain for FC Edmonton back in 2011. A GoFundMe campaign has been set-up to help his family.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC Man of the Match: Derek Cornelius
Referee: Drew Fischer
Scoring Summary
18’ – MTL – Romell Quioto (Saphir Taïder, Lassi Lappalainen)
40’ – MTL – Lassi Lappalainen (Emanuel Maciel)
Statistics
Possession: MTL 44.6% – VAN 55.4%
Shots: MTL 12 – VAN 10
Shots on Goal: MTL 4 – VAN 2
Saves: MTL 2 – VAN 2
Fouls: MTL 19 – VAN 8
Offsides: MTL 0 – VAN 3
Corners: MTL 6 – VAN 3
Cautions
85’ – MTL – Anthony Jackson-Hamel
85’ – VAN – Derek Cornelius
Montreal Impact
23.Clément Diop; 4.Rudy Camacho, 5.Luis Binks, 15.Zachary Brault-Guillard, 22.Jukka Raitala ©; 2.Victor Wanyama; 21.Lassi Lappalainen (18.Orji Okwonkwo 66’), 6.Samuel Piette, 8.Saphir Taider (37.Maximiliano Urruti 55’), 25.Emanuel Maciel; 30.Rommell Quioto (11.Anthony Jackson-Hamel 79’)
Substitutes not used
1.Evan Bush, 14.Amar Sejdic, 16.Joel Waterman, 26.Jorge Corrales, 27.Clément Bayiha, 28.Shamit Shome
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
51.Thomas Hasal; 11.Cristian Dájome (29.Yordy Reyna 66’), 4.Ranko Veselinović (28.Jake Nerwinski HT), 15.Andy Rose, 13.Derek Cornelius, 53.Ali Adnan; 32.Patrick Metcalfe (17.Leonard Owusu HT), 55.Michael Baldisimo (27.Ryan Raposo 62’), 31.Russell Teibert ©; 7.David Milinkovic (87.Tosaint Ricketts 76’), 9.Lucas Cavallini
Substitutes not used
1.Bryan Meredith, 3.Cristián Gutiérrez, 14.Theo Bair, 20.Jasser Khmiri
