Montreal Impact News Release - www.montrealimpact.com

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

VANCOUVER, BC -- The Montreal Impact (2-0-1; 6 pts; 4GF-1GA) shut out the Vancouver Whitecaps (0-2-0; 0 pts; 0GF-4GA) by a 2-0 score, Wednesday, in its third game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship at Swangard Stadium, in Vancouver.

Forward Roberto Brown (30th minute) and midfielder David Testo (66th minute) scored the two goals for the Impact, while Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan registered his second shutout of the tournament, stopping with his right hand a lob from defender Steve Kindel in the 59th minute.

“On that save, I first thought that he was going for a powerful shot but he made a delicate chip at the back post, so I'm glad I made the save,” explained Jordan. “Again today, my main focus was on helping the team the best I can. They threw a lot at us in the second half, but we absorbed the pressure. The second goal we scored was critical for us.”

On the first goal sequence, forward Severino Jefferson intercepted a corner kick from midfielder Patrick Leduc and made a short back-pass towards midfielder David Testo, who took a low shot in the box. Brown jumped on the rebound from Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly, who had dive to his right to stop the first shot.

In the second half, David Testo doubled Montreal’s lead. After accepting a short pass from Leduc, Testo fired a strong 20-meter shot that beat Nolly to his right, while the ball was curving outside the net.

It was a fourth win by shutout in as many games for new Impact head coach John Limniatis.

“We have done very well tonight,” said Limniatis. “We were without a doubt the best team, especially in the first half. We moved the ball well and it was productive. We did what we had to do to win this first game on the road. Now, the pressure is on Toronto.”

After three games played in this tournament, the Impact now leads the standings with six points (2-0-1). Toronto is currently second with three points (1-0-0), while Vancouver is last with a record of two losses (0-2-0).

The Impact will play its final and fourth game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, July 22, at BMO Field, in Toronto. Meanwhile, the Whitecaps and the Toronto FC will match up July 1 in Toronto and July 9 in Vancouver.

The Impact will play a second game on the West Coast, this Saturday, June 28, against the Seattle Sounders, at 11 pm (USLlive.com) and will be back in Montreal Sunday.

HIGHLIGHTS
36th minute – Impact forward Severino Jefferson beat a Whitecaps defender inside the box before firing a high shot that sailed just above the Vancouver goal.

56th minute – Whitecaps forward Eduardo Sebrango took a 20-meter hard shot, directly on the crossbar.

NUTRILITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
The Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps are facing each other in a six-game tournament for a spot in the newly formed CONCACAF Champions League. The tournament winner will then face in a home-and-away series the Nicaraguan champion team. The team who finishes first will also be awarded the Voyageurs Cup trophy.