Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 CF Montreal
VANCOUVER, BC–Vancouver Whitecaps repeated as Champions of Canada with a 2-1 decision over CF Montreal in the Final of the Canadian Championship before 20,072 at BC Place. As a result, the Whitecaps become the first Major League Soccer team to qualify for the revamped 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.
After a goalless first half, thanks in large part to Montreal keeper Jonathan Sirois, the breakthrough came for the Whitecaps in the 57th minute after Sirois misplayed a Julian Gressel long ball and Ryan White would have an empty net to put the ball in and open the scoring. The lead would be doubled nine minutes later after Ryan Gauld scored from the penalty spot after Ahmed Hamdi clipped Gauld in the area.
CF Montreal would pull one back in the 83rd minute after a looping ball from Mathieu Choinière found Sunusi Ibrahim who beat Yohei Takaoka near post. However, Takaoka was sharp in second half stoppage time denying Ibrahim a potential equalizer with a leaping save in the 92nd minute. The Whitecaps would hold on for the victory after Mason Toye was unable to get on the end of a long back at the end.
Julian Gressel was named the recipient of the George Gross Memorial Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament while Ali Ahmed won the Toyota Best Young Player Award.
The Whitecaps will return to league play on Saturday at 7:30pm PT when they host league leaders FC Cincinnati on Apple TV’s Season Pass.
Gerrit te Hennepe is our man with the photos from Wednesday night. You can view a sample below and more by clicking on the link.
