2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 12
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Montreal Impact
BC Place – Vancouver
September 16 – 9:30 PM ET
TV: TSN 1/5, TVA Sports
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US
After a decisive win Sunday night, its as plain as day for the Montreal Impact when they meet the Vancouver Whitecaps again at BC Place Wednesday night: A win, by any scoreline, puts Thierry Henry's men through to the Canadian Championship final.
That's what's at stake for the Impact (5W-4L-1D) after that come-from-behind win emotionally-charged game, which saw both teams finish with 10 men. The Whitecaps (3W-7L-0D) not only would love to play spoiler, but also get valuable points in their quest up the Western Conference table. One thing is certain, support will be coming from Toronto with any result other than an Impact win sending Greg Vanney's squad to the final.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
It was a positive start for the Whitecaps, who raced in front 1-0 on a Theo Bair seventh-minute goal. But Vancouver quickly conceded the equalizer, the first of four straight Impact goals. Vancouver finished with 10 after Lucas Cavallini was sent off for his second bookable offense in the 57th minute.
"We got the first goal and then there's a great chance to do the 2-0, we don't score, [Clement] Diop makes a very good save," Marc dos Santos said. "When they tied the game in the play with [Romell] Quioto and [Orji] Okwonkwo, we became a lot unstable, we struggled."
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Maxime Crépeau (GK) - fractured left thumb
- OUT: Jasser Khmiri (D) - undisclosed injury
- PROBABLE: Janio Bikel(M) - left adductor strain
- PROBABLE: Tosaint Ricketts (F) - undisclosed injury
- Suspended: Lucas Cavallini (F)
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Montreal Impact
The Impact showed their character to quickly bounce back from an early deficit to defeat the Whitecaps 4-2. The wealth of away goals could prove to be the deciding factor in advancement to the Canadian Championship. One of those goals was scored by Samuel Piette, the first of a 79-game MLS career.
“I think it shows that we have a team with a lot of character,” Piette said after the match. “We could have given up going 1-0 down which is obviously difficult to come back from that away. It was difficult as well for the goal differential to come back so I think we responded really well.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Steeven Saba (M) - left foot injury
- OUT: Mathieu Choinière (M) - ankle injury
- OUT: Ballou Tabla (M) - adductor injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Emanuel Maciel (M)
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Whitecaps
- Whitecaps: 2 wins, 8 goals
- Impact: 2 wins, 8 goals
- 1 draw
Officials
- Referee: Drew Fischer
- Assistant Referees: Michael Barwegen, Chantal Boudreau
- 4th Official: Alain Ruch
- VAR: David Gantar
