Montreal Impact draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps with strong performance

The Montreal Impact came back from the 2-week world cup break with a strong performance against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Playing a strong road game was key to kick-start its 2014 season and Frank Klopas' men did so in 0-0 draw at BC Place. The Whitecaps were unbeaten in its last 8 games.

A strong first-half showing was important to give a confidence boost to the visitors as they tried to contain an offensve Vancouver squad. Newcomer Gorka Larrea had a positive impact on his first MLS game, replacing departing designated player Hernan Bernardello.

The first chances in the game came from Montreal and Maxime Tissot was involved in both. The left-back/left midfielder had a shot deflected by a defender and then saved by David Ousted. Later in the half, he finds Jack McInerney behind the Whitecaps backline but ''JackMac'' shoots wide.

A good performance by the Impact is always associated with a monster performance by Troy Perkins who came up big again for the bleu-blanc-noir. Multiple saves on Kekutah Manneh, Pedro Morales, Carlyle Mitchell kept the cleansheet for veteran MLS goalkeeper.

The Tissot-McInerney duo was back at it again as the Impact almost came close to take all 3 points when Tissot's shot, from a McInerney pass, hits the post.

This group effort was lauded by the coaching staff and felt that it was important to play well right after a 2-week break as the club gets ready for a marathon of games.

The Impact host the Houston Dynamo at Stade Saputo, this Sunday.

Highlights

Lineups

MTL - GK-Troy Perkins; D-Hassoun Camara, Matteo Ferrari, Heath Pearce, Karl W. Ouimette; M-Gorka Larrea (Wandrille Lefèvre 76'), Patrice Bernier (Santiago Gonzalez 88'), Maxim Tissot, Andrés Romero, Issey Nakajima-Farran (Eric Miller 67'); F-Jack McInerney

Subs not used: GK-Evan Bush; D-Adrian Lopez, Futty Danso

VAN - GK-David Oustet; D-Carlyle Mitchell, Andy O'Brien, Johnny Leveron, Jordan Harvey; M-Gershon Koffie, Matias Laba, Kekuta Manneh (Sebastian Fernandez 62'), Pedro Morales, Darren Mattocks (Russell Teibert 75'); F-Erik Hurtado (Omar Salgado 87')

Subs not used: GK-Paolo Tornaghi; D-Christian Dean; M-Nicolas Mezquida, Mehdi Ballouchy

Cautions

MTL - Tissot 10'
MTL - Romero 33'
MTL - Larrea 74'
VAN - Mitchell 82'
VAN - Koffie 90+3'