Impact, Whitecaps FC battle to stalemate in first leg of Championship final

The Amway Canadian Championship final will shift to the Pacific Coast for the second leg with the score locked at 0:0 after Montréal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps FC battled to a scoreless draw at Stade Saputo in Montréal on Wednesday night.

Both teams exchanged decent chances in what was a tightly-contested affair – but neither team was able to find a goal to take an advantage into the second leg of the Championship final to take place at BC Place in Vancouver on Wednesday 29 May.

Patrice Bernier and Marco Di Vaio had chances to put the Impact ahead in the first half but neither could convert on sights at goal.

Whitecaps FC answered back with a pair of first-half chances when Alain Rochat and Andy O’Brien attempted to force home efforts from inside the area during a scramble off of a corer kick.

The second half saw the tight defensive play continue with neither team letting down its guard at the back.

Vancouver’s Russel Teibert hit a firm effort that sailed wide of the far post.

Montreal’s best chance of the second half was blocked by Vancouver defender O’Brien after Jeb Brovsky had cut inside to set-up Di Vaio.

Neither team was able to carve out a clear-cut chance in the match’s dying stages and the teams will now head to Vancouver to dispute the final over the second leg.

Match Highlights: Montréal Impact 0:0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Montréal Impact started the match with Evan Bush in goal; Dennis Iapichino, Hassoun Camara, Matteo Ferrari and Jeb Brovsky across the back-line; Andres Romero, Collen Warner, Patrice Bernier (c) and Justin Mapp through the midfield; and Andrew Wenger and Marco Di Vaio in attack.

Felipe replaced Warner in the 62nd minute. Blake Smith replaced Andres Romero in the 72nd minute. Sinisa Ubiparapovic replaced Wenger in the 81st minute.

Hassoun Camara received a yellow card in the 25th minute.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC started the match Brad Knighton in goal; Nigel Reo-Coker, Andy O’Brien, Johnny Leveron and Jordan Harvey across the back-line; Gershon Koffie, Brad Rusin and Matt Watson in midfield; and Russell Teibert, Darren Mattocks and Alain Rochat in attack.

Corey Hertzog replaced Mattocks in the 65th minute. Erik Hurtado replaced Rochat in the 78th minute.

Andy O’Brien received a yellow card in the 49th minute.

At stake in the final of the Amway Canadian Championship is the right to hoist the Voyageurs Cup; as well as the chance to go on to be Canada’s lone representative in the 2013 / 2014 CONCACAF Champions League.