Vancouver Whitecaps FC claimed their second win in the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship following a 1-0 home victory over Montreal Impact, Wednesday, May 27.

Ethan Gage's first-ever goal for the Whitecaps men's team pulled the USL First Division champions into a first-place tie with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC at the top of the three-club Canadian Championship standings. The result also sets up an important final tournament match for the Blue and White, as they host TFC at Swangard Stadium next Tuesday night. Defeat for the Impact, meanwhile, ends their reign as Voyageurs Cup holders after Montreal had initially won the inaugural edition of the tournament last year.

Though the margin of victory was slim, the Whitecaps were full value for the win after putting the Impact under plenty of pressure throughout the midweek match-up, with the home side even missing a penalty early in the second half.

Whitecaps head coach Teitur Thordarson made two changes to the side that started last Wednesday's tournament win at Montreal. Justin Thompson replaced the suspended Wesley Charles at centre back after the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international had picked up two yellow cards in the Whitecaps last two championship matches. The other change saw Justin Moose replace Gordon Chin, with the former D.C. United man starting on the right-hand side of midfield.

Impact interim head coach Marc Dos Santos, meanwhile, made three changes to the side that fell to defeat versus the 'Caps last week. Midfielders Felix Brillant, Stephen deRoux, and Leonardo Di Lorenzo came into the Quebec club's starting XI, with suspended captain Nevio Pizzolitto, injured attacking midfielder Rocco Placentino, and striker Roberto Brown all making way for the visitors. The Impact attack also included two familiar faces to Whitecaps fans, as Joey Gjertsen and Eduardo Sebrango faced their former club on Wednesday.

A Swangard crowd of 5,134 saw a competitive and intriguing first half, with the 'Caps edging the number of goalscoring chances and referee Dave Gantar issuing no fewer than five yellow cards.

The home side had the first chance on three minutes, but Marcus Haber's shot from Takashi Hirano's forward ball was well saved by Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan. At the other end a minute later, deRoux got the better of his marker Wes Knight before striking a shot straight into the arms of Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly.

The 'Caps kept pressing forward, with Charles Gbeke winning a corner off Impact defender Simon Gatti on 10 minutes, as the big striker got on the end of Moose's dangerous cross from the right. Four minutes later, Sebrango had a rare first-half opportunity for the visitors, but he struck deRoux's cross well off target in the Vancouver box.

The Whitecaps created more opportunities around the midway point of the half, with Haber forcing another save from Jordan on 21 minutes before Ansu Toure struck the Montreal side-netting after making a dangerous run into the Impact box two minutes later.

The 'Caps best chance of the half came on 25 minutes after Jordan had fouled Haber along the Montreal byline in a battle for the ball. Whitecaps captain Martin Nash played the ensuing free kick into the box and found youngster Gage, but the 18-year-old's close-range header flew over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, the Impact were gifted a chance to take the lead when Thompson's sliding challenge saw the ball roll kindly to Gjertsen, who was able to break in on the Whitecaps goal. Fortunately for the home side, centre back Jeff Parke closed down the Montreal attacker before Gage made a superb sliding tackle to deny Gjertsen from getting a shot on goal.

Then on 36 minutes, a big moment for the Whitecaps - both in the match and the competition as a whole - as Nash was booked by Gantar for dissent. The playmaker was upset that he was not awarded a free kick on the edge of the Montreal box after falling under a seemingly late challenge from Impact defender Adam Braz. Nash's yellow card means he will miss Vancouver's final tournament match against TFC next week.

Though two minutes of time added on were played at the end of the half, both sides went to the halftime break tied at 0-0.

Needing another set of maximum points to put themselves back in the hunt for the title, the Whitecaps picked up where they left off and created more chances soon after the restart. On 48 minutes, Gbeke headed Nash's cross wide of the target.

Four minutes later, however, the home side were awarded a major chance to break the deadlock. Gbeke took Toure's cross in the Montreal box before neatly turning Braz in front of the Impact goal. The move forced Braz to haul the striker down, with Gantar immediately pointing to the penalty spot and booking the Montreal centre back as a result.

A further three minutes elapsed before the spot kick was taken by Gbeke, but Jordan was equal to his effort, as he made a fine diving save to his left before Moose struck the ensuing rebound over the crossbar.

The miss may have proved costly for the Whitecaps, with the Impact nearly making their hosts pay when deRoux dispossessed Knight down the left flank on the hour mark. The Jamaican winger made his way along the byline towards goal, but Nolly was on hand to block his shot and concede a corner.

Three minutes later, Lyle Martin replaced Moose on the right side of midfield to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from a broken foot. His contribution was nearly immediate, as he headed Nash's free kick into the Montreal box wide of goal.

As the match reached the midway point of the half, it was the Whitecaps that showed the urgency to get themselves in front, with their passing and movement forcing the Impact to retreat into their own third of the pitch.

On 67 minutes, the decisive moment finally came, as the 'Caps took the lead following a long throw into the Montreal box by Knight. Haber flicked the ball into the path of Sebrango, with the Cuban making a poor clearance of the set piece. The ball came straight out to Gage, who took one touch and volleyed a shot past Jordan and into the bottom corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead. The strike was not only Gage's first goal for the men's team, but it made him the second player from the Whitecaps Residency program after Dever Orgill to score for the club's first team.

The goal prompted Dos Santos to make a change in attack, with Pa Amadou Gai replacing Brillant on 69 minutes. Moments later, both the Gambian forward and Sebrango struck efforts wide of the target for the visitors.

Though they struggled to create much during the contest, the one-goal margin always gave the Impact a chance to pull themselves back into the match. On 76 minutes, Whitecaps fans had their hearts in their mouths when Nolly hesitated to come and meet Gatti's cross into the Vancouver box. That moment of indecisiveness allowed Gai to get his head to the ball, but the African put his effort wide of the target.

As the match entered the dying stages, Gbeke was given another chance on 83 minutes, but his powerful header from Knight's cross from the right flew wide of the target. Five minutes later, Nolly had to make two vital saves to preserve the win and another clean sheet in the competition, with the American shot-stopper first denying Gai, then Sebrango on the rebound.

Four minutes of time added on only added to the increasing tension around Swangard, but the final whistle from Gantar ensured the Whitecaps set up a big showdown with TFC for the tournament title, while ending Montreal's hopes of a return to the CONCACAF Champions League.

Both the Whitecaps and Impact will now return to USL-1 action on Saturday. Vancouver head down Interstate 5 to meet Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers at PGE Park in Oregon, while Montreal travel to Upstate New York to face Rochester Rhinos.