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VANCOUVER, B.C. - The first leg of the Canadian Championship Final kicked off with neither side earning a clear advantage. Vancouver looked to have earned a 2-1 advantage, but a stoppage time own goal from Doneil Henry squared the opening leg 2-2.
"The scoreline is in our favour with two road goals." Coach Greg Vanney told reporters. "That’s a decent road result. We go home now with a need to try and win the game or keep the game in a good position for ourselves. The vision of the game wasn’t necessarily what we anticipated but it’s the result that matters when you go home.
I think in the second half, with them being down a man and us having so much possession in the first half, we got a little bit too casual. The look of the second half became different because we got too casual on the ball, too slow in everything we were doing.”
In front of 16,833 fans at B.C. Place, Kei Kamara opened the scoring from the spot. Jonathan Osorio scored before the interval, and Erik Hurtado looked to play the role of hero for the second time in a week.
Undeterred, Toronto FC pressed forward and scored at the death, a Jozy Altidore cross into the box was headed down into Vancouver's net by former Toronto FC man, Henry.
Upset with referee David Gantar and several decisions that went against his club, Coach Carl Robinson did not hide his thoughts when discussing Gantar and his performance.
"I wish I could tell you what is in my mind at the moment. I’m really not sure (what we can be done with him) because he spoilt the game. It’s not a red card. He’s got that wrong, but it’s okay. This is what I hear all the time, it’s not okay. He’ll be officiating again at the weekend, but it’s not okay because it spoiled a game on live, national TV today of two good teams going at each other, but the 12th person spoiled the game. I’m fuming, as you can probably tell."
Toronto FC and Whitecaps FC will play the return leg on Wednesday, October 15 at BMO Field. Toronto will take an away goals advantage back home as they look to advance to the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League.
"Same as we did today." Robinson said, when asked how his team would approach the second leg. "Hopefully it’s a fun game. Two good teams go at it. Two different ideas. Hopefully it’s about the teams rather than someone else."
Moments of the Match
Whitecaps FC opened the scoring in the 24' minute after a lovely display of generosity from Canadian international, Tosaint Ricketts. Off an ensuing corner, Ricketts blatantly raised his arm and made contact with the ball. Referee David Gantar made no hesitation and pointed to the spot, awarding Vancouver a penalty.
Kei Kamara stepped up and roofed the ball on Clint Irwin to put Vancouver up 1-0.
Whitecaps FC's advantage did not last long as Toronto FC quickly replied with an answer of their own. Auro burst up the pitch, and found a streaking Marco Delgado. Jonathan Osorio was unmarked inside the Vancouver box, and he connected on Delgado's cross.
The match took a turn in stoppage time as Felipe was issued a controversial straight red card for a challenge on Delgado. Despite clearly making contact with the ball first, Felipe was given his marching orders. The crowd reigned down a chorus of boo's for Gantar.
Whitecaps FC were forced to play the second half down to 10 men.
"You know, at the time I thought it was possibly a red card." Robinson said. "He raised his foot. I’ve seen it on TV. What you tend to find is football people know what is a red card and what is a yellow. You get disgruntled managers that might not tell the truth sometimes because they’re biased. But I’ve been told by ten different people in there exactly the same thing, so I’m right this time. And when you’re right, I think it’s a contentious yellow, I can see that, but not a red. Then Yordy (Reyna) goes through at the end and it’s a tackle from behind. You set the tone, You sent the player off, but it’s a yellow card. That’s a disgruntled manager."
Vancouver were doing their best to frustrate Toronto FC. Despite having a player advantage, the visitors struggled to create offence and maintain possession. The Caps created several opportunities on the counter as they looked to break the dead-lock.
Alphonso Davies was worth the price of admission as he made several explosive bursts down both flanks. Davies finish in the final third was not quite there, as Clint Irwin made a pair of spectacular saves to keep Toronto FC from falling behind.
The home side kept coming and it was super substitute Erik Hurtado who made the difference. Sent in by Russell Teibert, Hurtado was one on one with Irwin and he made no mistake slotting the ball decisively behind the Toronto FC keeper to make it 2-1.
Five minutes of stoppage time was shown on the board, the crowd once again delivered more boo's. Toronto FC used every last second, but they made it count. An Altidore cross into the box was headed home by a diving Doneil Henry. Vancouver came close to securing a massive result, but it was the defending champions who found a way back.
Man of the Match
Erik Hurtado made his mark off the bench. The Caps offensive weapon was called on to replace Kei Kamara and he took his opportunity. Hurtado has often shown that is a streaky player. When he is on his game, and in the zone, he is a terrific substitute for Whitecaps FC late in matches off the bench.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Starting XI: Stefan Marinovic; Marcel de Jong, Doneil Henry, Kendall Waston(C), Jake Nerwinski; Alphonso Davies, 86 (Brek Shea), Russell Teibert, Felipe, Cristan Techera, 46 (Aly Ghazal); Yordy Reyna, Kei Kamara, 66 (Erik Hurtado). 4-4-2
Toronto FC Starting XI: Clint Irwin; Chris Mavinga 46 (Justin Morrow), Eriq Zavaleta, Nick Hagglund; Auro, 64 (Ryan Telfer), Marco Delgado, Michael Bradley(C), Jonathan Osorio, Ashtone Morgan, 70 (Jason Hernandez); Tosaint Ricketts, Jozy Altidore. 3-5-2
Notes: Whitecaps FC announced on Wednesday that the club and midfielder Bernie Ibini have mutually agreed to a contract termination, allowing the 25-year-old Australian international to sign with UAE Pro League side Emirates Club.
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