By BOB MACKIN
BURNABY, B.C.: Eduardo Sebrango and David Testo got revenge against their former club Sunday night when they led the Montreal Impact in a 2-1 United Soccer Leagues' First Division win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Sebrango scored in the 19th minute on a rebound after Whitecaps' goalkeeper Jay Nolly saved the original Rocco Placentino shot.
The Whitecaps equalized in the 42nd minute when Marcus Haber converted an Ansu Toure cross over the goalmouth. Testo scored the winner from 18 yards after receiving a throw-in from Gatti in the 44th minute.
The 2-1 halftime score held through 90 minutes and the Impact got revenge for losing twice to Vancouver in Nutrilite Canadian Championship play.
"We weren't playing as well, now we're trying to regroup," said Sebrango, whose four shots on goal were exceeded only by Placentino.
On May 27, the Whitecaps prevented Montreal from repeating as the Canadian entry in the CONCACAF Champions League. Vancouver is poised to advance, unless Toronto FC can beat Montreal by four goals on June 18. Click here to find out more!
"I don't think this was any better team than we played in the Nutrilite," said Whitecaps' head coach Teitur Thordarson. "We didn't get the rhythm we wanted."
Striker Marlon James, who played 20 minutes for Vancouver in a Premier Development League reserve team match on Saturday, is poised to return from a hamstring injury. But Thordarson may have three fresh injuries on the back line. Wesley Charles left after suffering a kick in the hip, while Jeff Parke (turf toe) and Wes Knight (ankle) departed the match earlier in pain.
The Whitecaps host Miami FC on Friday before a return June 20 engagement in Montreal.
Earlier Sunday, the W-League Whitecaps drew 1-1 with the visiting Pali Blues. Whitecap Kirsteen Buchan's 28th minute goal, assisted by Amy Vermeulen, was negated when Iris Mora replied for the Pacific Palisades, Calif. team in the 55th. The Whitecaps, who drew 1-1 twice with the Seattle Sounders in their two previous matches, have nine more chances to get a W-League win in 2009.
