Harambee Stars captain features in Montreal Impact's win
Montreal Impact's Victor Wanyama beats a Vancouver Whitecaps player during their Major League Soccer (MLS) match at the Saputo Stadium in Montreal on August 26, 2020.
What you need to know:
- The three Canadian MLS teams are facing each other three times — for a combined nine games as Covid-19 border restrictions still complicate travel to and from the United States.
- The results count in the MLS standings with the best team after the nine games earning a spot in the Canadian Championship final against the winner of this season's Canadian Premier League.
Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama played the entire game as Montreal Impact beat Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0 in a Major League Soccer (MLS) match on Wednesday morning at the Saputo Stadium in Montreal.
Samir Quioto opened the scoring on 18 minutes with Finnish midfielder Lassi Lappalainen doubling the lead on 40 minutes.
Montreal Impact are third on the log with three points having played three matches and will face Toronto FC in their next match on Saturday.
Victor Wanyama #2 of Montreal Impact reacts against Toronto FC during a Group C match as part of the MLS Is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 16, 2020 in Reunion, Florida.
Victor was elated with the result.
Playing their first game in exactly one month, Montreal Impact became Canada's first professional sports team to play in front of fans since the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted the MLS in March.
Montreal coach Thierry Henry admitted the fans played an important role in the win.
"It's better than when there's no one. We heard them. They encouraged us. It was important to have them.
They supported the players until the very end. There's nothing better than having fans in the stadium." Henry said in the post-match interview.
The crowd of 250 — the maximum permitted inside Saputo Stadium under public-health guidelines were scattered across eight separate stands in the 20,801-seat venue.
Ruan (left) of Orlando City runs the ball past Victor Wanyama of Montreal Impact in the second half during the knockout round of the MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 25, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. Orlando City won 1-0.
The three Canadian MLS teams are facing each other three times — for a combined nine games as Covid-19 border restrictions still complicate travel to and from the United States.
The results count in the MLS standings with the best team after the nine games earning a spot in the Canadian Championship final against the winner of this season's Canadian Premier League.
Wanyama left Tottenham Hotspur to join Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact in a three- and-a-half year deal in March this year.
He made 97 appearances for Spurs during his three-and-a-half year stay at the club having been signed by Argentine Mauricio Pochettino from Southampton.
He enjoyed a successful first season for Tottenham but a series of knee injuries derailed his progress at the club.
In four seasons with Spurs, Wanyama tallied six goals and an assist in 69 regular season games.
