Uphill Battle Ahead
By: Lee | October 12th, 2009We lost at home in front of a packed and raucous Swangard stadium. We did not play well, getting dominated in the midfield. And we’re down a goal heading into hostile territory without our captain.
But this final is far from over.
There’s still a lot of good that can be taken from last night’s game.
The Whitecaps showed a ton of character after going down a man, coming back twice to tie the game. This team truly embodies a ‘Never-say-die’ attitude. The young guns also really stepped up for this big game. USL-1 Rookie of the Year Marcus Haber lifted his team back into the game after scoring a spectacular goal; fellow rookie nominee Wes Knight assisted the second Whitecaps goal.
If anything cost the Whitecaps this game, it was the poor performances from key veteran players. The most disappointing performance came from Martin Nash, who was having a very poor game before being sent off. The red card was a harsh call on a foolish challenge by a frustrated captain, who should have known better. Usually reliable goalkeeper Jay Nolly also had a shaky game: his failure to parry a shot properly resulted in the game-winning goal. Shawn Pejic also had a very poor game.
However, one veteran player that did play well was striker Marlon James. His inclusion into the game immediately injected life into the Whitecap’s offense, with his speed and size causing the Impact defense all kinds of trouble. He scored the second tying goal and almost tied the game in the dying minutes. I would not be surprised if he started on Saturday.
There’s still plenty of reasons to hope the Whitecaps can win their third USL title. To win the championship outright, the Whitecaps have to beat the Impact at Saputo by two goals, something they’ve already done this season. The Whitecaps scored two goals against the Impact, the most goals the Impact have allowed in almost a month, and did so with only ten men.
And let us not forget, we’re playing against a team that has collapsed before in second legs.
Be Champions!
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Comments | Add your comment
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“a team that has collapsed before in second legs”
ugh. Don’t remind me.
Posted from
United States
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Hi
I was at the game and these are my thoughts. The first half montreal completely dominated, we could have been behind 3-0. The officiating in the 2nd half was probably the worst i have ever seen in the USL. Chenard is well known in vancouver as a “less than professional” referee ever since the TFC game in 2008.
The crowed boos her everytime she starts a match here and she retaliates on the field time and time again with one sided calls. Yes the crowd is being childish however as a professional she should be above that.
Her red card to Nash was an over reaction to the theatrics from the injured impact player, the impact’s 2nd goal was perhaps the most offside goal i have seen since a minnesota game in 2007. Numerous missed calls as our forwards were mauled and the yellow card to James after celebrating in the same manner the impact did moments earlier again reflects her childish approach when she is in vancouver.
I know the boys will push hard in Montreal and if they play like they did in the last 40 minutes of this past game then anthing can happen. However if the officiating there resembles anything like this first game (or the first game in montreal 2008 semi final with the infamous red-card for nolly) then i dont like our chances.
Go whitecaps!
wcf2009
Posted from
United States -
Would you like some cheese with that whine? Hah, but seriously, the refereeing in USL is much worse than what we saw in that game. This season has shown that game in game out.
But as to Nash’s red, his tackle was both dangerous and a clear retaliation, nevermind the theatrics.
As for Byers being offside, take a look at the replay above. 5:46, he’s still on-side after the ball is released.
I don’t understand the yellow after James’ goal. The only difference I see is that he jumped over the banner ads and celebrated with the crowd. He probably didn’t deserve a yellow on that, but my guess is he’d probably been close to getting a card for something else in the game.
Posted from
United States -
Hi
I have to say i (and at least the vancouver sun sports writer, and TT the coach) disagree with you but hey thats one of the beauty of sports it brings people together to discuss things.cheers
Posted from
United States -
Indeed. I suppose in that case, FSC, Radio-Canada and Marc Dos Santos all disagree with you. So we’re back to square one.
Just to show that it wasn’t all theatrics, take a look at this article from Rue Frontenac (Journal de Montréal): I dunno if you can read french, but here goes: http://www.ruefrontenac.com/sports/impact/12149-impact-brown
Posted from
United States -
We win!! HAHA
Looks like Joey’s money got us what we needed this year. Last year we were screwed by the refs, Saputo complained but better yet started sponsoring all over the league (i even saw a saputo sign in carolina). Et voila, 4 of the 6 playoff games the other team gets red cards.
bien yoyons donc
Posted from
United States
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