SPORTS NEWS
Montreal Impact beat Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2, lead final on aggregate
BURNABY, B.C. - The Montreal Impact beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2 on Saturday night and take the advantage in the two-game aggregate United Soccer Leagues First Division final.
An own goal off a Vancouver defender and strikes from Peter Byers and Eduardo Sebrango provided the offence for Montreal. Marcus Haber and Marlon James replied for the Whitecaps.
The second and decisive leg is at Montreal's Saputo Stadium on October 17th.
After a tentative opening 45 minutes, Montreal made the breakthrough right on the stroke of halftime. Stephen Deroux won a yard of space on Vancouver defender Wes Knight and his cross from the left side found Roberto Brown, whose header went off Whitecaps defender Shaun Pejic and past goalkeeper Jay Nolly.
Vancouver nearly equalized within three minutes of the restart. James found himself on the end of a cross from the left side but his header went over the bar.
The Impact gained a further advantage in the 51st minute when Whitecaps captain Martin Nash shown a straight red card. Nash fell under a late tackle from Brown that went unpunished and retaliated with a late tackle of his own. Nash will miss the return leg in Montreal.
Brown remained down stayed down and was stretchered off, but returned within seconds of getting to the sidelines.
The Whitecaps equalized in the 56th minute when Haber, the USL rookie of the year, capitalized on a turnover in midfield. After holding off two Montreal defenders, he struck a low shot from 18 yards out, beating Jordan to his left and bringing the crowd of 5,886 to its feet.
Byers restored Montreal's lead in the 63rd minute, beating the offside trap on a through ball to beat Nolly from a tight angle
Vancouver again clawed back just two minutes later. Knight fed an perfect cross from the right side and James emphatically headed the ball into the net.
But Montreal would not be denied on this night. Rocco Placentino's initial shot was stopped by Nolly but Sebrango was on hand to cash in the rebound just before the final whistle.
