Match Report:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

In a battle of the top two clubs in the NASL Conference, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2W-1L-3D) recorded a second straight goalless draw in the USSF D-2 Pro League following a 0-0 home result with Canadian arch-rivals Montreal Impact on Saturday evening.

In what was their second meeting of the season at Swangard Stadium, these two Major League Soccer-bound clubs showed plenty of endeavour to find a match winner, but neither side could find a way past the two goalkeepers in Montreal's Matt Jordan and Vancouver's Jay Nolly.

The weekend draw keeps the Whitecaps at the top of the NASL Conference standings - one point ahead of Montreal after six games played. The result also matched Vancouver's record of four straight league shutouts to start a season, with the 'Caps first setting the mark back in the 2006 United Soccer Leagues First Division campaign.

With captain Martin Nash and Jonny Steele unavailable, Ricardo Sanchez earned his first start for the Whitecaps alongside Luca Bellisomo in central midfield. There was also a Vancouver debut for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international striker Cornelius Stewart, as he partnered Marcus Haber in the 'Caps attack.

Having struggled through their last two home contests, a Swangard crowd of 5,177 saw an improved first-half display from the 'Caps, with Thordarson's side doing well to close Montreal down when the visitors were in possession of the ball.

Vancouver's pressure also resulted in a series of corners and free kicks during the opening 45 minutes. Just three minutes in, Sanchez's first corner of the match curled in and bounced to a streaking Nelson Akwari at the far post. Unfortunately, the Whitecaps stand-in captain was unable to direct his header on target.

The Mexican's quality at striking a ball from a set-piece or open play was one of the main reasons that Thordarson brought Sanchez to the Blue and White this season. On 28 minutes, the former California Victory and Minnesota Thunder player excited the crowd with a half-volleyed chance that skipped just wide of the target after Impact striker Peter Byers made a poor clearance of Zurab Tsiskaridze's throw into the Montreal box. Four minutes later, Sanchez had Vancouver's best chance of the half, as he curled an exquisite left-footed free kick over the Impact wall, but Jordan was on hand to make a fine save down to his left to keep the match scoreless.

As for the visitors, the Impact also showed their quality before the break, with head coach Marc Dos Santos playing a very strong starting XI versus the 'Caps. With Byers and Rocco Placentino leading Montreal's attack, the Impact were a real threat on the break and in around the Whitecaps box. On 35 minutes, Nolly had to be alert to stop Placentino's fine turn and shot from a tight angle, with the 'Caps number one redirecting the striker's shot off the underside of his own crossbar and away to safety. Five minutes later, Byers had an equally good chance to break the deadlock for the Quebec outfit, but after eluding the attentions of Tsiskaridze in the Whitecaps box, the striker's shot sailed high and wide of Nolly's goal.

It meant that these two Canadian rivals went to the halftime break at 0-0.

The second half saw more of the same action at both ends, with the Whitecaps attacking towards the south goal and their Southsiders faithful following the restart.

Again, much of Vancouver's attacking efforts came from set-pieces, with Sanchez orchestrating most of those proceedings. On 58 minutes, the Mexican found centre back Greg Janicki in the Impact box with a curling free kick, but the defender's looping header landed on top of Jordan's net. Four minutes later, Bellisomo's misfortune in front of goal struck again for a second straight match. After hitting the post in last Saturday's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace Baltimore, the midfielder struck the woodwork again after his header connected with the base of the far post following a well-struck corner from Sanchez.

The Mexican admitted he needed to be patient for his first Vancouver start. "As with every player in the world of soccer, it's hard when you don't start games," said Sanchez. "However, you have to be professional and work for your opportunities every day because you never know when your chance might come."

As entertaining a contest as it was, the midway point of the half brought disruption to the flow of play after both sides made several substitutions. The Whitecaps brought on Randy Edwini-Bonsu to play up front with Haber on 68 minutes, while the home fans were delighted to see their first glimpse of left fullback Takashi Hirano this season, as the former Japanese international made his first appearance after recovering from a pre-season knee injury.

The fresh legs on both sides contributed to a strong finish of this latest battle between Vancouver and Montreal. The Impact's Stephen deRoux and Simon Gatti drilled shots not far off target for the visitors, while on 81 minutes, Stewart forced Montreal defender Adam Braz into a timely clearance of his dangerous cross from the right.

Looking to give the home fans something to shout about, the Whitecaps final opportunities did not bring the desired outcome. On 87 minutes, Janicki had a header and a subsequent shot blocked in the Montreal box following a long Wes Knight throw-in from the right, while in the three minutes of time added on, Edwini-Bonsu earned a late yellow card for kicking the ball away after being adjudged to be just offside, as he pursued a ball forward.


Though home draws are not the most satisfactory of results, Thordarson drew many positives from Saturday's stalemate with Montreal. "I thought it was a good game, and that we played very well in all aspects, except scoring goals," he said after the match. "If we had managed to score a goal early in the match, then the game could have been totally different. Overall, I felt we were very positive tonight and I really liked what I saw."

The Whitecaps will now turn their attentions back to this year's Nutrilite Canadian Championship, as leaders and defending Voyageurs Cup champions Toronto FC visit Swangard on Wednesday evening. Montreal are also back in action on Wednesday night, as they visit USL Conference club Portland Timbers in The City of Roses.

Scoring Summary:
none

Cautions:
31' - MON - Hicham Aaboubou
60' - MON - Filipe Soares
63' - VAN - Marcus Haber
73' - VAN - Cornelius Stewart
90+' - VAN - Randy Edwini-Bonsu

Match Stats:
Shots: Montreal 7 - Vancouver 8
Saves: Montreal 3 - Vancouver 2
Fouls: Montreal 16 - Vancouver 17
Corners: Montreal 2 - Vancouver 7
Offsides: Montreal 3 - Vancouver 4

Montreal Impact
1.Matt Jordan; 23.Stephen deRoux, 2.Hicham Aaboubou, 5.Nevio Pizzolitto, 3.Adam Braz; 11.Leonardo Di Lorenzo, 7.David Testo, 8.Filipe Soares (24.Simon Gatti 66'), 14.Tony Donatelli (21.Philippe Billy 75'); 9.Rocco Placentino (19.Reda Agourram 74'), 28.Peter Byers (12.Eduardo Sebrango 67')

Subs not used: 22.Srdjan Djekanovic, 6.Tyler Hemming, 26.Cedric Joqueviel

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Jay Nolly; 77.Zurab Tsiskaridze, 2.Nelson Akwari, 14.Greg Janicki, 8.Wes Knight; 16.Ansu Toure (22.Takashi Hirano 72'), 99.Ricardo Sanchez, 3.Luca Bellisomo, 19.Justin Moose (17.Randy Edwini-Bonsu 68'); 24.Marcus Haber, 39.Cornelius Stewart (15.Philippe Davies 88')

Subs not used: 31.Simon Thomas, 4.Chris Williams, 9.Marlon James, 11.Dever Orgill