Vancouver Whitecaps v Montreal Impact – A Canadian Championship Semi-Final Story In Pictures
The Canadian Championship hasn’t been kind to Vancouver Whitecaps over the years. Lady luck seemed to have abandoned them, but they finally got a bit of luck on Tuesday night on their way to a 2-1 semi-final first leg lead against Montreal Impact at BC Place.
It was a veritable game of two halfs. Alphonso Davies and Nicolas Mezquida gave the ‘Caps a 2-0 lead at the break, and it felt like they were coasting. But the Impact came out with a new fire in their belly in the second half and David Choinière pulled one back, grabbing what could be a crucial away goal.
And Montreal could have come away with the victory after a blistering period that saw Chris Duvall hit the post, Patrice Bernier see a penalty saved, and Spencer Richey coming up with a huge goalline stop to deny Bernier again.
But the ‘Caps held on and now head to Montreal next Tuesday with a slight edge and all still to play for.
But all in all a good day at the office for the Whitecaps and AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk was there to capture all the action before, during and after the game. Here’s his “Story In Pictures”, with a full Flickr slideshow at the end.
[Also check out Tom’s website www.residualimagephotography.com for more of his photos and work].
Your Vancouver Whitecaps starting XI
Alphonso Davies was a handful for Montreal’s defence early on, and was close to winning a penalty for Vancouver when he was brought down on the edge of the box
And it was Davies who fired Vancouver ahead in the 13th minute when a low cross from Brek Shea was helped on it’s way by a Nicolas Mezquida backheel
And the 16-year-old buried it under Montreal keeper Maxime Crepeau for the opening goal
Feel the joy
Ben McKendry forced Crepeau into a near post save with a fierce 25th minute strike
On the deck or in the air, Davies was a constant threat for the ‘Caps
And Davies went on a great mazy in the 33rd minute
Getting past three Montreal defenders before a foot poked the ball away
But only as far as Mezquida
Who fired home to make it 2-0 ‘Caps
More joy for the dynamic duo
But the second half was a different story and David Choinière pulled Montreal to within one in the 61st minute
Seven minutes later and it was nearly all square, but Chris Duvall’s long range striker crashed off the left post
The rebound fell to Anthony Jackson-Hamal but he missed a gaping goal from close range
A shocking, and possibly costly, miss
Then another chance goes a begging in the 73rd minute when Spencer Richey gets down well to turn away a Patrice Bernier penalty after Cole Seiler was adjudged to have handled in the box
And Richey came up huge again four minutes into stoppage time, denying Bernier again with a reflex leg save on the goalline
The USL buddies celebrate
As does Marco Bustos, who does the Humba with Curva Collective
You can see all of Tom’s photos from the game HERE and in our full Flickr slideshow below:
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