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It’s the final match of the Amway Canadian Championship tournament. Toronto FC are looking to win the trophy and bragging rights for the fourth year in a row, while Vancouver will hope to win their first and cement their rightful place as the best team in Canada in 2012. So as we count down to Wednesday’s second leg match at BMO Field in Toronto, we asked a number of RedNation soccer analysts to give us their thoughts and predictions on how they think the big match will unfold.
Armen Bedakian, Toronto FC Analyst:
Honestly, who wouldn't have predicted these two teams making the finals? It's become expected that Toronto FC and Vancouver meet up as the last remaining twosome, duke it out away at BC Place, come to BMO Field and crown a champion. Montreal was an improved side this year but failed to make much of an impact (see what I did there?), giving Toronto FC the most undeserved shot at a Champions League place.
And, of course, Toronto FC will walk out victorious. They'll beat Vancouver and claim a berth; a last-place, 0-point team getting set to prove they are worthy of being called the champions of all of CONCACAF. It's a uniquely Torontonian story, one that warrants nothing but sighs. Yes, Toronto FC will win. They'll win comfortably. They'll dump Vancouver, gather around the Voyageurs Cup, and regain some much-needed positivity in the locker room. Then on Saturday, they'll lose their 10th-straight MLS game, when they fail to deliver in league play against the Philadelphia Union.
Prediction: Toronto FC 2 – Vancouver Whitecaps 0
Steve Bottjer, Canadian Soccer Analyst and co-host of the North of 49 podcast:
Given the manner in which the first leg played out, this is not an easy game to predict. Vancouver is clearly the better side with depth at every position that is a real credit to Martin Rennie and the Whitecaps brass. That said, Vancouver has been snakebitten in this tournament in past years in the same manner in which TFC have not had even the slightest bit of luck in the league this season. While the Whitecaps are a more complete team, the Reds do have an attack that is capable of breaking out of the doldrums and putting a few past Joe Cannon. Players such as Ryan Johnson, Nick Soolsma and Danny Koevermans are going to have to be on their games if TFC are going to have any chance. The more Toronto can push forward and play the game in the Whitecaps half of the pitch, the less opportunity there will be for Vancouver to take advantage of any defensive breakdowns by the home side.
My dream scenario would be one in which TFC wins this game and goes on to play in the CONCACAF Champions League while both Vancouver and Montreal make the MLS Playoffs. All three Canadian MLS teams would be playing meaningful games and achieving significant things in 2012. However, that isn’t how I see things playing out. If Martin Rennie gets his lineup right and unleashes Eric Hassli among others, Vancouver will win their first Canadian Championship. There are few players that are capable of genuine magic in the MLS, but that the big Frenchman has shown he is capable of something truly majestic in big matches and he is the X-Factor in Wednesday’s game.
Prediction: Toronto FC 1 – Vancouver Whitecaps 2
Ian Clarke, RedNation Soccer Analyst and Host of the East Side Stand Up TFC podcast:
With three teams in the competition now in MLS, this mini-tournament is significantly more heated than years before. No longer is there an asterisk beside the win because all the teams, save for Toronto, were competing in the second division. Toronto was supposed to, and should have, won all of the trophies over the last four years, but has been in their rightful place over the last three editions.
Vancouver is no longer an expansion side, and rightfully should be the favourites to lift the trophy this year. Their roster far and away has the best quality and is the most balanced of all the Canadian teams. However, Toronto's form in the league and in tournament play really is night and day. It goes against everything the we've seen each week for them to first off, win a game (as seen against Montreal), but also earn a point on the road (as seen last week in Vancouver).
The away goal will do wonders for them in the final match, because I do not believe Vancouver will be denied scoring at BMO Field. But there are players on TFC that, for whatever reason, when backed into a corner and given the last gasp at something to play for, raise their game to compete with the best.
I just can't go against precedents and what has been demonstrated unequivocally over the last two months, reconfirmed last week in Vancouver, and that is that Toronto are destined to be the worst team in MLS, but somehow lift a trophy beating one of the better teams in the league.
Prediction: Toronto FC 2 - Vancouver 1
Kevin Duarte, Montreal Impact Analyst:
Another version of the Canadian Championship is about to be concluded. The Vancouver Whitecaps find themselves battling Toronto FC for the title once again. TFC got the better of them three years in a row and have an away-goal advantage heading back to BMO Field this year. Eric Hassli came to the rescue for Vancouver in leg one, scoring a thunderous volley from 12-yards out in injury time.
Toronto FC had a more difficult path to get to the final. After 'parking the bus' in leg one against Montreal, they managed to outplay their rivals, down a man for 75 minutes, in leg two. Vancouver had no trouble beating Edmonton, winning 5-1 on aggregate. A spot in this year's CONCACAF Champions League is on the line for both Toronto and Vancouver. They both have a legitimate shot at representing Canada in the tournament. Even though Vancouver gave up a crucial away goal, all they need is to win in Toronto or draw with goals to win their first Voyageurs Cup.
Prediction: Toronto FC 0 - 2 Vancouver Whitecaps
Kamal Hylton, RedNation Columnist:
The Second Leg of the Voyageurs Cup Final shapes up to be very interesting, given that Toronto FC are at home and play as a different animal in cup competitions. TFC picked up an away goal in the first leg and hold a slight advantage heading into the second leg. However, I like Vancouver Whitecaps to lift the cup and be Canada’s representatives in the CONCACAF Champions League.
They simply have one of the better defensive units in MLS and can overrun the midfield with players like Gershon Koffie and Jun Marques Davidson, not to mention the French connection up front in Eric Hassli and Sebastian Le Toux, who have been combining better as of late.
In my opinion, TFC just don’t seem like a team that can use an away goal to their advantage and they still have the gigantic monkey of a winless, pointless league season to overcome. For them to win they will need to rely heavily on Milos Kocic to bail them out and they will need to get some production from someone other than Ryan Johnson or Reggie Lambe. This would be an ideal time for Joao Plata, Eric Avila, Nick Soolsma or Danny Koevermans (provided the two Dutchmen are fully fit) to make an impact.
It’s clear as day that the Whitecaps want this trophy and have gone so far as to rest key players in league matches to ensure they are fit and ready to go on Wednesday.
Prediction: Toronto FC 1 – Vancouver Whitecaps 2
Matthew Low, Vancouver Whitecaps Analyst:
Vancouver is clearly the better team, but does Toronto want it more? That will be the deciding factor heading into the final. On one side you have a club who is itching to get their hands on their first trophy, while on the other, you have a team who desperately needs to take the title to salvage an already miserable season.
If Toronto can get the support from their fans, they’ll be a very scary side. This is essentially their last hope for the season, so expect them to fight tooth and nail for the victory.
However, Vancouver just has too many attacking options to fall short. We saw it in the first leg, where if the starters aren’t getting things done, there are more than enough options on the bench to win them the game. Combine that with their good form (they played well against a tough Seattle side on the weekend), and you may just have the right combination to pull off a win away from home.
Prediction: Toronto FC 1 – Vancouver Whitecaps 2
Jonathan Szekeres, Vancouver Whitecaps Analyst:
I might be a little bit biased, seeing as how I cover the Whitecaps, but I think this is Vancouver’s game to lose. I think that they are the better of the two teams, and my argument is backed up by a quick look at the MLS standings. However, it will depend on which Van city team turns up. When the ‘Caps are at their best, they play a tight, solid defensive game led by Alain Rochat and Jay Demerit. They don’t allow many chances, and when they do, the ageless Joe Cannon is there to bail them out. On the offensive side, they score timely goals and get contributions from their entire roster. With Eric Hassli finding his game, the ‘Caps have that three headed monster of Hassli, Camilo and Sebastien Le Toux. Plus, Omar Salgado and Darren Mattocks have looked very good in their brief time on the pitch. Their speed makes them constant threats.
However, when the ‘Caps aren’t on their game, the defense crumbles. A goal is scored against them, and all of the sudden the roof caves in, chances are given up, goals are scored, and ‘Caps fans are left to wonder what the hell just happened.
Let’s just say it’s the law of averages. The ‘Caps have yet to win the tournament, while Toronto has done the deed their last three tries. I say Vancouver breaks the goose egg and wins the match.
Prediction: Toronto FC 0 - 1 Vancouver Whitecaps
Djuradj Vujcic, RedNation Contributor:
Although I have great respect for Vancouver and the history of the club, my prediction will be a little more focused on my hometown of Toronto. At the start of the season, I couldn’t help but be optimistic. Nine losses later, TFC is still winless in the season. One thing that goes in Toronto’s favour prior to this second leg is that, in the Canadian Championship, the aforementioned record (theoretically) doesn’t matter.
Assuming Eric Hassli plays in this leg, my prediction is that he will not score. After his wonder goal in the first leg, all eyes will be on him causing him to not produce. However, Vancouver isn’t just Eric Hassli and I’m sure coach Winter knows that. If Toronto can gel (and mentally prepare), I don’t see how hoping for a 1-0 TFC victory is asking too much. I would also suggest TFC drop the 4-3-3, at least for this match. The 4-3-3 is a formation that should always take into consideration the opponent and I would suggest a 4-4-2 (or 4-1-2-1-2) which is more suited to Toronto and its players. This is a final and formations and strategies are often changed to suit that. Having said that, Toronto should not come out of the gate lethargically and they should set the pace with a somewhat defensive-minded approach. Not a bunker but more like a defense-conscious approach. As long as there’s not a lone TFC forward on the pitch, anything is possible. Even a win.
Prediction: Toronto FC 1 – Vancouver Whitecaps 0
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