Goals by Mauro Biello and Jason Ditullio paced the Montreal Impact to a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in a game that was played in a heavy thunderstorm. The game was stopped at the 68th minute for 15 minutes due to lightning and very heavy rain. Geordie Lyall scored the only goal for Vancouver.
Both teams started the game with intensity. Impact midfielder Mark Rowland sent a great shot in the 16th minute that Vancouver keeper Alex Marques barely deflected out of the way. Just four minutes later Rowland set up the first Montreal goal when he floated a lazy cross into the Vancouver box. Biello dove onto the ball and headed it past Marques. Montreal 1 Vancouver 0.
The momentum changed dramatically in the 25h minute when heavy rain started to come down and slow both sides down. In the28th minute Vancouver defender Kevan Cameron was red carded for a vicious tackle on Eduardo Sebrango. Down to ten men, the Whitecaps tightened their defense. Vancouver tied the game in the 36th minute on a very strange play. Montreal defender Lloyd Barker, in an attempt to clear the ball, sent it off Lyall. The ball went very high in the air and landed in Sutton's hands and slipped into the net. Montreal 1 Vancouver 1.
Both teams played tenacious defense for the rest of the half.
In the second half, with the rain having stopped, both teams got back to business. An Alfredo Valente rocket tested Sutton in the 47th minute. Just three minutes later, Ditullio put Montreal ahead with a nifty side-volley from 6 yards out. Montreal 2 Vancouver 1.
Steve Kindel hit the post on an attempt in the 53rd minute. Montreal also had chances, notably when a Nick De Santis bullet was stopped by Marques.
In the 68th minute, the referee stopped the game due to the heavy rain and lightning. Most of the 5, 632 spectators left the game at this point. The delay only lasted 15 minutes. Soon both teams were back on the field. Valente hit the crossbar just a minute later. The Whitecaps kept threatening but were stopped by the alert Montreal defense and a very sharp Sutton.
After the game Impact coach Bob Lilley said, "We were fortunate tonight. Our finishing wasn't great. Vancouver played positive soccer even with 10 men." He noted that his team played a very good first 25 minutes but waned after the rain began. But overall he was happy saying, "We got a result." Ditullio, who scored his first professional goal, simply said, "It feels great."
The Impact will have a full week to prepare for the Hampton Roads Mariners, who will play in Montreal on July 24th. The Impact will then travel to Rochester two days later to meet the division leading Rhinos.
Game Notes: This is the first meeting of these teams this year. The two teams will meet again on August 25th in Vancouver…Whitecaps players Nick Dasovic, Jim Larkin and Niall Thompson have all played for the Impact…Giuliano Oliviero, Paul Shepherd and Eduardo Sebrango have all played for Vancouver at one time.
Lineups:
Montreal: 1 Sutton (GK), 5 Pizzolitto, 8 Gervais, 13 Barker, 14 Kopp, 3 Ditullio (15 Leduc 68), 4 De Santis, 6 Rowland (21 Oliviero 57), 10 Roberto (18 Placentino 85), 12 Sebrango (19 Fronimadis 68), 20 Biello. Substitutes not used: 22 Shepherd (GK), 2 Braz, 11 Kolic.
Vancouver: 29 Marques, 24 Dasovic, 15 Lyall, 3 Cameron, 11 King (18 Veer 66), 23 Finan (16 Craveiro 73), 2 Clarke, 20 Morris, 8 Kindel, 13 Thompson, 9 Valente. Substitutes not used: 1 Larkin (GK), 6 Fonseca.
Goals: Biello (Mtl. 20), Lyall (Van. 36), Ditullio (Mtl. 50)
Cautions: Barker (Mtl. 56), Valente (Van. 76), Dasovic (Van. 83).
Ejections: Cameron (Van. 28)
Conditions: Rain, heavy at times, very hot and muggy.
Attendance: 5,632
Three Stars: 1) Biello 2) Ditullio 3) Valente
