The Montreal Impact rebounded from their 6-1 Canadian Championship loss to Toronto FC just two days earlier by handing the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps a 2-1 loss in Montreal on Saturday.
“Following the game on Thursday, we wanted to obtain a good result and get the three points,” said Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. “We knew that it was going to be tough against Vancouver, but I saw a team with character this afternoon. Players need to understand that we need to stick together to get good results. It wasn't easy to play two games in 48 hours. Now, we need to keep on working.”
The Impact lost the final match of the Canadian Nutrilite Championship enabling Toronto to surpass the Whitecaps on goal differential and move on to the CONCACAF Champions League Tournament.
Impact midfielder Rocco Placentino opened the score at the 34th minute of play. From inside the box, forward Roberto Brown made a pass on the left side for Placentino, who then beat Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly to his left.
Placentino scored his second goal of the season with a shot that went off the far post before entering the net in front of 12,287 spectators, at Saputo Stadium..
“It is my Mom's birthday,” said Placentino. “We knew we had to bounce back and it went well. It was an important match for us and it was a matter of respect for the fans. We knew that they were coming here to win and that they would be aggressive.”
Brown (39th) doubled Montreal's lead less than five minutes later. Near the goal line, Placentino made a cross to the ground for Brown on the six-yard area line. Standing alone in front of the goal, Brown turned before beating Nolly with a shot that found the top of the net.
Whitecaps forward Marlon James narrowed the Impact's lead at the 63rd minute. On a cross from midfielder Vicente Arze, lightly deflected by Impact defender Stefano Pesoli, James took a point blank shot that left no chance to goalkeeper Matt Jordan.
Jordan registered his third win this season, after facing 17 shots and making 8 saves. Jordan made a notable save in stoppage time of the second half. Following a cross from James, Jordan saved forward Dever Orgill's header by diving to his right.
With the victory the Impact improved to 4-4-2 while the Whitecaps fell to 4-5-2.
