USL 2009 First Round Playoffs Open Thursday

MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact (5th, 12-11-7) plays Thursday the first leg of the USL First Division quarterfinals against the Charleston Battery (4th, 14-5-11) at Saputo Stadium, at 7:30 pm (radio-canada.ca, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com). The Impact has a lifetime record in the playoffs of 17-17-5 (48GF-41GA) and won two championships, in 1994 and 2004.

“I think that the momentum is on our side at this moment,” mentioned team captain Mauro Biello, who won the two championships. “We have a good group with a number of players who have already won the championship. To win, we need to score against the Battery, which we haven’t done during the season. In the playoffs, you cannot make errors and you need to seize your chance when you get the occasion to score. It’s a question of execution.”

This is the first time that both teams match up in the playoffs. In regular season play, the Impact plays under the .500 mark in 20 matches against Charleston (8-10-2, 18 GF – 19 GA). The Impact has only won twice against the Battery in the last 10 games between both teams (2-6-2).

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WHITECAPS SET FOR CAROLINA PLAYOFF SERIES
VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (11W-10L-9D – USL-1 regular season) look to defend their USL First Division championship title when they take on Carolina RailHawks (16W-7L-7D – USL-1 regular season) in the first round of the league playoffs this week.

Teitur Thordarson’s side claimed the final postseason berth in USL-1 after suffering just one defeat in their last 10 matches (4W-1L-5D). They now take on a Carolina side that were one of the most improved clubs in 2009 under first-year head coach Martin Rennie. The two sides will meet at Swangard in the first leg on Thursday night before heading to Cary, North Carolina, for the second leg on Sunday afternoon.

Whitecaps fans will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s playoff run, as Vancouver went on to claim their second USL-1 championship title in three seasons in 2008. After defeating Minnesota Thunder 5-4 on aggregate in a tricky first-round match-up, the Whitecaps overcame Canadian rivals Montreal Impact 2-1 on aggregate to reach the championship final. Then on Thanksgiving Sunday (October 12, 2008), two headed goals by Charles Gbeke secured the league title for the Blue and White in front of a sold-out and enthusiastic crowd of 5,822 at Swangard Stadium.

This will be the first time that the Whitecaps play the RailHawks in the playoffs, with Vancouver unable to record a win over Carolina during the regular season. On July 17, the RailHawks earned their first home win over the Whitecaps in club history after a 2-1 result. A Marco Reda own-goal and a second-half strike by Sallieu Bundu secured the win for Rennie’s side. On August 15, the Whitecaps were held to a frustrating goalless draw at Swangard before Carolina earned another stalemate with the ‘Caps after a 1-1 result at WakeMed Soccer Park on August 18. Marcus Haber gave the Whitecaps the lead midway through the second half before Andriy Budnyy equalized in the dying stages of the match. Thursday’s first leg will be the ninth all-time meeting between the two clubs, with Carolina only in their third season as a USL-1 outfit. Vancouver’s all-time record versus Carolina currently sits at two wins, two defeats, and four draws.

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