Impact looking for redemption

After two years in the championship, there isn’t anyone who can question the Impact’s aspirations for the 2010 edition of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. After a poor finish in the 2009 competition, the Impact is geared for redemption in 2010 against Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.



That road to redemption begins Wednesday night against Toronto FC. The two one-time champions will kickoff the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship on 28 April at BMO Field. The match kicks off at 20.00 ET (17.00 PT) and will be broadcast live on Rogers Sportsnet.



“It will be a major game,” said Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. “We are expecting a big challenge because two champion teams will match up: Toronto, the defending Canadian champions and the Impact, (USL First Division) league champions last year.”



The Impact Montréal was also the inaugural winner of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship in 2008. That national title qualified the Impact for CONCACAF Champions League. In the continental championship, the Impact made it all the way to the quarter-final stage.



In last year’s national competition, the Impact fell to third and last place as Toronto FC claimed the Voyageurs Cup in the final match of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Toronto FC clinched that title in Montréal with a big win against the Impact.



“We have to get back to what we did in 2008,” said midfielder Tony Donatelli. “We scored only once last year. We definitely need to score more goals and create good scoring chances in order to get points. I think that we’ll need at least eight or nine points to win.”



The 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship runs six consecutive Wednesday nights from 28 April to 2 June. The three teams in the competition – Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver – play four games each, two at home and two on the road. As reigning champions, Toronto FC hosts both the championship opener and championship finale.



As for Montréal, it has won three league titles in the A-League/USL First Division and one national title in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. If it gets off to a good start on Wednesday night against Toronto, it could be on the path for yet another title in 2010.