Montreal Impact vs Vancouver Whitecaps | 2018 Canadian Championship Preview

Montreal Impact vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Canadian Championship Semifinal - First Leg
Stade Saputo — Montreal
July 18 - 7:30 pm ET
WATCH: CanadaSoccer.com, Yahoo Sports Canada

For the fifth time in the last eight years, the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps FCmeet in either the Canadian Championship final or semifinals as their aggregate semifinal series kicks off at Stade Saputo Wednesday night.

The Impact have won the competition three times, including back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014, while the Whitecaps have reached the final seven times, winning just one Voyageurs Cup in 2015.

A year ago, Alphonso Davies and Nicolas Mezquida struck for first-half goals and David Choiniere pulled Montreal a goal back in the 62nd minute in a 2-1 Vancouver win in the first leg.

Ignacio Piatti scored twice from the penalty spot in the opening 28 minutes and Blerim Dzemaili made it 3-0 after 38 minutes in the second leg. Davies struck again for the Whitecaps, followed by what proved to be the decisive goal by Anthony Jackson-Hamel two minutes later as Montreal won 4-2 and advanced to the final 5-4 on aggregate.

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Montreal Impact     

The Impact bounced back from a 3-0 midweek loss at New York City FC to defeat the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-0, at Stade Saputo Saturday. It was their fifth win in their last six games and fifth straight at home.

Saphir Taider opened the scoring in the eighth minute, settling a pass from Piatti with his right foot before slotting home with his left. Piatti then added the insurance goal in the 74th minute, his 10th goal of the season.

“The fans, of course, because they give us strength and power,” Remi Garde said when asked about the keys to his team’s success at Stade Saputo. “Also I think we play with more confidence offensively when we play home. It gave us more chances, more opportunities. We can hold the ball collectively more easily at a home game than an away game.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Zakaria Diallo (ruptured Achilles tendon), D - Kyle Fisher (tibia injury), M - David Choiniere (ankle surgery), M - Louis Beland-Goyette (foot injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Evan Bush — Michael Petrasso, Victor Cabrera, Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala— Shamit Shome, Samuel Piette, Saphir Taider — Raheem Edwards, Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Ignacio Piatti

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

The Whitecaps weren’t able to spoil the housewarming party, losing to D.C. United, 3-1, in the grand opening of Audi Field Saturday night.

Yamil Asad’s golazo in the 27th minute was the first goal scored in the newest soccer specific stadium and Paul Arriola added a second-half brace to put the hosts comfortably in front, 3-0, with 10 minutes left in regulation.

Davies scored a cosmetic goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time for the Caps, who lost for the third time in their last four games.

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: D - Kendall Waston (left groin strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2 right to left)
GK: Stefan Marinovic — Jakob Nerwinski, Jose Aja, Doneil Henry, Brek Shea — Cristian Techera, Aly Ghazal, Russell Teibert, Alphonso Davies — Anthony Blondell, Nicholas Mezquida

All-Time in Canadian Championship

• Overall: Montreal Impact 8 wins, 38 goals … Vancouver Whitecaps FC 14 wins, 44 goals
• This is the fifth time in the last eight years the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps FC meet in either the Canadian Championship final or semifinals. A year ago, the Whitecaps won the opening leg, 2-1, at BC Place on May 23, 2017 before the Impact took the second leg, 4-2, at Stade Saputo on May 30, 2017 to advance to the final 5-4 on aggregate.