Scoring chances were scarce Friday night as the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps were goalless in the opener of an all-Canadian United Soccer League First Division semifinal.
However, Eddy Sebrango almost gave Vancouver a 1-0 edge heading into the second of the two-game, total goal playoff Sunday in Montreal.
Sebrango, acquired this year by Vancouver after four seasons in Montreal, was robbed in the 36th minute on a remarkable reaction save by goalkeeper Greg Sutton.
Whitecap midfielder Tony Donatelli, who had several threatening runs down the right flank, brought the ball into the penalty area.
Sebrango had half the net open but his strike from ten yards was parried away from the far post by the diving Sutton, who also plays for Canada's national team.
Sebrango also couldn't make contact when he tried a diving header off Steve Kindel's cross in the 71st minute.
Montreal and its well-organized defence, which conceded only 15 goals over 28 regular-season games leading to their fifth league title, now have home field advantage in a bid to advance to the Sept. 30 final.
The second-seeded Rochester Raging Rhinos defeated No. 3 Charleston Battery 1-0 in the first game of the other semifinal. League champion Montreal and Rochester earned first-round playoff byes.
Mauricio Salles, the Impact's leading scorer in the regular season with nine goals, had the best Montreal chance of the first half when he broke between two defenders but fired over the bar.
First half substitute Mesut Mert had a similar opportunity but his drive from outside the penalty area was smothered by Vancouver keeper Tony Caig.
Earlier, Vancouver attackers David Testo and Martin Nash ran down two long probes into Montreal territory but were taken down near the penalty area.
Testo's free kick was blocked by the wall. Montreal defender Adam Braz received a yellow card for fouling Nash but the resulting free kick was easily cleared by Impact defenders.
The fourth-seeded Whitecaps, whose attacking style blew out Miami FC 6-1 in the two-game, total goal opening round, entered the playoffs as the league's hottest team.
Vancouver had won four straight, were undefeated in six and lost only once in their last ten. The Impact, who hadn't lost here in 10 years, posted a pedestrian 3-3-4 mark in their previous ten games.
NOTES: Attendance was 5,225. ... The Impact won USL titles in 1994 and 2004. ... Montreal midfielder Antonio Ribeiro was out with a groin injury. ... This is the fourth time in seven years that the Whitecaps have reached the semifinals. ... Vancouver midfielder Martin Nash played his 67th consecutive game, one behind Domenic Mobilio's club record.
