Photo Courtesy: canadasoccer.com
For the second year in a row the Vancouver Whitecaps have fallen victim to the Montreal Impact in the Voyageurs Cup. This year though the Impact finished off the Whitecaps with a performance on the pitch instead of a decision made off the pitch. After a poor first half Montreal made a few substitutes in the second half including the early introductions of De Roux and Byers which helped the Impact pull off a draw and finish off the tournament a game early.
Dos Santos learned from the events 2009 and although he did not play the strongest possible Impact team the squad he sent out was certainly capable of winning the game and they came close. They did well to pounce on a Whitecaps error in the second half and Billy finished off the move with a very well taken volley. The Whitecaps back four, Janicki in particular, was all over the place and looked very unorganized. The Impact easily could have scored more than one, but one was all they needed in the end to end the Whitecaps Voyageurs Cup hope.
Vancouver had their fair share of chances as well. Although Marcus Haber was very mechanical and ineffective all match his partner Cornelius Stewart offered a bit of pace and creativity. Ansu Touré had the beating of Adam Braz throughout the game and his early work down the left wing could have led to Vancouver getting out on the front foot, but the finishing in front of the Impact’s goal was poor. In the end it was Ansu Touré himself that got on the end of a Whitecaps moved which he finished off from fifteen yards out for the Whitecaps only goal
The biggest positive to come out of the match for the Whitecaps though was the play of debutant Doudou Touré. Who looked very promising. He looked very dangerous and was quicker than anyone out there. Doudou Touré (of no relation to Ansu Touré) surprised even the most optimistic of Whitecaps supporters.
The play of Di Lorenzo in the first half for Montreal was a little disappointing after he was so effective in Montreal’s earlier three matches, but when De Roux came on he looked as dangerous as ever. Together pair make up what has got to be the best left side in Canada. The overlapping runs of De Roux, the ability of Di Lorenzo to cut in and create opportunities, they can be very exciting to watch when on form.
One issue from the match which has spawned a bit of controversy was the Impact players’ decision to waste time with the score tied in a match where they needed nothing. It’s debatable whether the Impact’s biggest rival is Toronto FC or the Whitecaps, but the team and its supporters certainly won’t enjoy seeing Toronto lifting the trophy next week. Many are saying they should have just ignored the consequences the result had for the other teams and gone for the win regardless. In the end it probably did not make too much difference but the aesthetics of the situation bothered some.
Last night was not only a victory for Toronto FC though it was a victory for the Montreal Impact who showed the tournament the respect it deserves and have returned value to a trophy which they won seven years in a row.
I don’t know if it was just me but I was unimpressed by Haber throughout the tournament. Aside from a few flashes sprinkled throughout the first 3 games there wasn’t much separating him from any of the other strikers.