Whitecaps FC looking for win

Vancouver Whitecaps FC and its home fans may be looking for some pay back against Montréal this Wednesday 5 May at Swangard Stadium. Vancouver was on the verge of winning the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship last year when Impact Montréal gave up a one-goal lead in the final match against eventual champion Toronto FC. This Wednesday’s match will be the first Nutrilite Canadian Championship match between the two sides since last year.



Vancouver and Toronto finished the 2009 championship tied with nine points, but Toronto FC won the trophy on what came down to a better goal differential in the tie breaker scenario. Toronto FC won 6:1 over Impact Montréal in that final championship match on 18 June 2009.



In fact, Vancouver has had four matches with Montréal since the close of the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The first league match was 20 June – a 1:2 loss at Stade Saputo. Montréal had rested several players two nights earlier for this 20 June match. The next match was an 0:1 loss on 9 September, again in Montréal during league play. Vancouver then lost back-to-back matches in the USL-1 playoff championship on 10 October (2:3 in Vancouver) and 17 October (1:3 in Montréal).



The two Canadian sides have not yet met this season in the new North American Soccer League Conference of USSF-2. Vancouver is in first place with two wins, one draw and one loss in four league matches this season. Vancouver lost 1:2 to Portland Timbers on Thursday 29 April.



In the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, this will be the first Vancouver-Montréal meeting since last year. In two years, Vancouver has two wins and two losses against Montréal in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Vancouver lost both matches in 2008 when it finished third; Vancouver then won both matches in 2009 when it almost won the championship but finished second.



The Wednesday 5 May match kicks off at 19.30 local time at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver. The match will be broadcast live on Rogers Sportsnet East and Rogers Sportsnet West at 22.30 ET / 19.30 PT.