30 mai: Montréal à Vancouver

[François]

Voici un preview sur le site des Whitecaps:




Men vs Montreal Impact
Fri. May 30, 8pm, Swangard.

Nationally televised game Fox Sports World

Live updates and halftime report
here on whitecapsfc.com


more pre-game news

The Montreal Impact come to town on Friday for a classic showdown between Canada's top two teams. It's going to be a challenging couple of days for the Whitecaps, as we also play on Thursday, away to the Portland Timbers.

Playing back-to-back games, with travel in between, is never easy, but it's not impossible to get good results. Two years ago, the Whitecaps played a gruelling game in El Paso, flew back to Vancouver, and then surprised everyone by defeating Portland 4-0 the very next night!

Fortunately for us, a lot of the players who have been out injured in recent weeks are now healthy, and are gradually returning to match-fitness.
On the down side, Jason Jordan and Nick Dasovic will miss both games, as they're away with the Canadian National Team for an exhibition match with Germany on Sunday. That game will be televised, by the way.

No matter how you look at it, Vancouver's bench strength will be severely put to the test this week, and the Whitecaps will have to give it their all to keep their status as the A-League's only remaining undefeated team.

Scouting report

The Impact have a strong core of star players, bolstered by some excellent youngsters from the Quebec area. They also have one of the league's toughest defences, with goalkeeper Greg Sutton currently ranked second in the league behind Vancouver's Mike Franks. And Montreal has always done well against Vancouver, winning 9 of the last 11 meetings, including a 3-0 victory at Swangard last season.

Vancouver fans will remember former Cuban international striker Eddy Sebrango, who played here in 1999 and has now made Montreal his home. Eddy was tied for the league goal scoring title last year with 18, but is still searching for his first goal this season. Instead, the Impact have been getting goals from feisty Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto, who leads the team with three.

The two key veterans for the Impact are striker Mauro Biello, who is the A-League's all-time assist leader, and midfielder and Assistant Coach Nick DeSantis. Both are 10 year-veterans of the team.

The Impact also have former Vancouver midfielder Martin Nash and defender Nevio Pizzolitto, but both are away with the Canadian National Team for the game in Germany.

As for Portland, the Timbers have got off to a poor start this year, just as they did last year, and they have now lost to each of their division rivals, including Calgary. They'll be desperate for a win against Vancouver at home, and will be counting on top scorer McKinley Tennyson to lead the way.

Game notes

• Montreal are 14-7-0 against Vancouver all-time since 1993, and 6-4-0 at Swangard.
• Top scorer Steve Kindel ranks 6th in the A-League with 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 games.
• This weekend marks Jason Jordan's first ever call-up to the National Team. Friday is also his 25th birthday.
• Montreal's Ze Roberto's was named A-League Player of the Week two weeks ago.

Bob Lenarduzzi is Director of Soccer Operations for Whitecaps F.C.

[François]

Leur alignement partant lors du dernier match contre Seattle:

(3-5-2)

29.Alex Marques

4.Nick Dasovic, 22.Chris Franks, 16.Nico Craveiro

11.Tiarnan King, 12.Oliver Heald,8.Steve Kindel, 7.Paul Dailly, 13.Jeff Skinner

14.Musa Shannon, 26.Jason Jordan


les joueurs:
http://www.whitecapssoccer.com/index.ht ... layers.htm

[François]

l'Ancien Impact sera de la sélection canadienne contre l'Allemagne et ne sera donc pas de la rencontre.

[François]

les photos:

http://www.soccercityusa.com/timbers/van052903-pics.htm