Dylan Butler

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC
Canadian Championship Final - First Leg
BC Place — Vancouver
August 8 - 10 pm ET
WATCH: TSN, TSN GO

For the fourth time as MLS foes, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Toronto FC are meeting in the Canadian Championship final with the winner of the two-legged aggregate series not only lifting the Voyageurs Cup, but also booking their spot in the Concacaf Champions League as Canada’s lone entry.

Toronto FC, who are seeking a third consecutive title and a seventh overall championship, beat the Whitecaps in the final in 2011, 2012 and in 2016. Vancouver’s lone championship was in 2015.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

The Whitecaps rallied from a 1-0 deficit after the first leg to defeat the Montreal Impact, 2-1 on aggregate in the semifinals following a 2-0 victory in the second leg July 25 at BC Place. Yordy Reyna leveled the series in the 19th minute before Kei Kamara scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot on the hour mark.

Carl Robinson went with a reserve lineup to take on New York City FC at Yankee Stadium Saturday evening and managed to join Atlanta United as the only teams to leave with a point following a 2-2 draw.

After Nicolas Mezquida opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, Jesus Medina and Valentin Castellanos scored on either side of the halftime break to put the hosts in front, but Erik Hurtado came off the substitute’s bench for the equalizer three minutes from full time.

“The boys are happy,” Robinson said. “I think when you look at the big picture, I love that group in there — I really love them boys. When they play like that and perform like that and give me absolutely everything — that’s the reason why I love these boys.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Jordon Mutch (right foot injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-1-1, right to left)
GK: Stefan Marinovic — Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Doneil Henry, Marcel de Jong — Cristian Techera, Aly Ghazal, Russell Teibert, Alphonso Davies — Yordy Reyna, Kei Kamara

Toronto FC

The defending champions had a bit of an easier road to the final, defeating Ottawa Fury FC, 4-0, on aggregate capped by a 3-0 home win in the second leg.

Ayo Akinola scored the lone goal of the first half before Jordan Hamilton and Jonathan Osorio struck late in the BMO Field victory on July 25.

TFC made it three games without a league defeat on Saturday, earning a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Sebastian Giovinco opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, but Josef Martinez responded with a second-half brace to put the hosts in front, 2-1. The score remained that way until Tosaint Ricketts struck for the stoppage-time leveler.

“We’re unbeaten in three now in the league. This is a difficult place to get any points so we’ll take it,” Greg Vanney said. “It’s about momentum and now we’ve got a Canadian Championship game midweek we’ve got to deal with and another tough team [NYCFC] coming to our place next week.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Drew Moor (quadricep strain)

Projected Starting XI
(3-1-4-2 right to left)
GK: Alex Bono — Gregory van der Wiel, Eriq Zavaleta, Chris Mavinga — Michael Bradley — Auro, Victor Vazquez, Jonathan Osorio, Justin Morrow — Tosaint Ricketts, Jozy Altidore

All-Time in Canadian Championship

Overall: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 15 wins, 46 goals … Toronto FC 19 wins, 51 goals
Last meeting: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, Toronto FC 1 (June 29, 2016)

Dylan Butler -

@Dylan_Butler

Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC Canadian Championship