Impact win the 2008 Nutrilite Canadian Championship

The Impact de Montréal has won the inaugural Nutrilite Canadian Championship. With a 1:1 draw in the championship finale on 22 July, the Impact secured first place with seven points in the three-team tournament. Toronto FC finished second with five points while the Vancouver Whitecaps finished third with four points.

Heading into the last match at BMO Field in Toronto, the Impact needed a draw or win to secure the championship. Toronto FC needed the win. Toronto FC’s Rohan Ricketts opened the scoring in the 15th minute, but the Impact’s Roberto Brown countered with the equaliser in the 26th minute.

At game’s end, the Impact was presented the Voyageurs Cup for the championship title. All 23 players also received an individual player medal. Goalkeeper Matt Jordan was presented the George Gross Memorial Trophy as the Nutrilite Canadian Championship’s most valuable player.

“It was a total team effort,” said Jordan. “We came here to play. We played and we attacked. This (BMO Field) is not a place you can come in and sit back.”

By winning the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, the Impact has also qualified for the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League. The Impact will face Nicaraguan club Real Estelí FC in a two-match set in late August and early September.

The Impact finished the tournament with two wins, one draw and one loss. After an 0:1 loss to Toronto FC, the Impact won back-to-back matches against the Whitecaps (2:0 and 2:0). The Impact posted a 1:1 draw in the championship finale.

Goalkeeper Jordan posted two clean sheets in four games (both against the Whitecaps). Roberto Brown co-led the tournament with two goals in four games (tied with Toronto FC’s Ricketts and the Whitecaps Eduardo Sebrango).