Montreal Take First Leg of Home and Away USL-1 Championship Series
Montreal 3-2 Vancouver
It was a high scoring affair at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, Canada. While most US soccer fans had en eye on the their National team, hoping they would qualify for the 2010 World Cup, our northern neighbors were watching carefully in an all-Canadian USL-1 final. 5,886 took in the game at Swangard and found a game that had its ups and downs and wasn’t decided until the 89th minute of the game, when Eduardo Sebrango scored for Montreal assuring them of the away win and a happy trip back to Montreal. Sebrango was also the game winner in added time in their last game, against Puerto Rico, which sent them through to the finals.
The scoring started in the 45th minute with a Vancouver own goal putting Montreal up 1-0.
The game also saw an unlikely sending off of Vancouver star midfielder Martin Nash in the 51st minute. Nonetheless, Vancouver got on the board in the 56th minute with a goal by Vancouver defender and USL-1 Rookie of the Year, Marcus Haber.
Montreal answered back in the 63rd minute with a goal by Peter Byers and assisted by Adam Braz. But Vancouver were not about to be hard done as they rallied for another goal just 2 minutes later when Marlon James put one away for the Whitecaps with an assist by Wes Knight.
Finally, in the dying moments of the game, Rocco Placentino sent a rocket of a shot that Vancouver keeper Jay Nolly parried high. Sebrango tore through the box and got his head on the ball as the keeper was trying to recover, knocking the ball into the back of the goal as he crashed the net.
The Whitecaps’ Marlon James nearly drew the game level in the second minute of stoppage time but his shot rolled just wide of the net.
The teams will now play the second leg of the Championship series in Montreal next Saturday. The game will be carried live on Fox Soccer Channel.
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Even with 10 players, this was a good game but the ending left me feeling a bit empty.
For those that didnt see it, the goalie received a powerful shot from outside the box and from a wide angle and like many goalies do nowadays for effect, he had to jump a bit to block the shot and then landed not on his feet but in a crumpled heap, the deflected ball went straight up and then landed about a few inches from the line where the goalie was still sprawled over the grass and he never got up as Sebrango just walked into the net and pushed the ball fo the last few inches.
It was as unsatisfying as an own goal, you will take it if its your team that scored but even a homer wouldnt be too proud of it.
Still, a great game even with the weather and 10 players so I cant wait for the next one.
Of course, I hope they dont use a white ball if it snows in Montreal. I talked to a friend this week and its already under the freezing point at night.
I hope theyre smart enough to play a day game.