Report and Reaction: Five star performance sees Toronto FC win seventh Voyageurs Cup as Vancouver capitulate
Sometimes the worst thing a football fan can have is hope.
Despite the massive disappointment of conceding a stoppage time equaliser to an own goal in last week’s first leg, ten man Vancouver Whitecaps’ 2-2 draw with Toronto wasn’t a bad end result all things considered. Certainly not great or ideal, but it could certainly have been worse. It gave them a fighting chance for the second leg. Some hope of getting the job done.
Saturday’s win in Portland, with an understrength side that was under the cosh for the whole second half, showed that the ‘Caps can go and grind out results in difficult places and against good teams. It put a spring in every Whitecaps player and supporter’s step heading into Wednesday’s Canadian Championship final second leg in Toronto. More hope.
But by half time, almost all hope had gone thanks to goals from Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco giving TFC what already looked to be an unassailable two goal lead, both on the night and in the tie.
By eight minutes into the second, it was distinguished altogether as Altidore completed his hat-trick. Goals from Kei Kamara and Brek Shea briefly made it interesting before a Canadian got on the scoresheet, as Tosaint Ricketts rounded off the scoring on the night to make it 5-2, and 7-4 on aggregate to seal TFC’s seventh Voyageurs Cup.
Carl Robinson made six changes to the starting line-up from the team that won 2-1 against the Timbers at the weekend. Alphonso Davies was cleared to play after struggling with a groin injury, and the Whitecaps certainly had what you would have classed as their first choice available starting line-up out there. But would it be enough to get the job done against the defending Voyageurs Cup and MLS Cup champs?
The Whitecaps task was a simple one in theory. Just win at BMO Field and a second Canadian Championship title was theirs. At kick off a 1-0 win would have sufficed.
It was an entertaining fast paced start, with both teams moving the ball well, although neither keeper really had much serious work to do.
The ‘Caps had the better of the early chances, with Yordy Reyna heading a Kamara cross wide six minutes in, while a Kamara break three minutes later saw little support and the chance fade.
TFC were offering little in attack, with Giovinco looking lively, but not threatening just yet, but he finally forced a save out of Stefan Marinovic in the 27th minute, with a low, bobbling free kick that took a deflection on the way through.
The home side started to noticeably turn up the pressure, with Chris Mavinga heading over just past the hour mark and Giovinco firing over a near Justin Morrow cutback just minutes later.
Vancouver’s own danger man, Davies, wasn’t getting the space to run and terrorise the Toronto defence but he got onto a Russell Teibert header at the edge of the box in the 34th minute, taking a step inside before curling an outswinging shot past the right hand post in his first real opportunity of the match.
Toronto responded with a Jay Chapman shot from in close, which Marinovic saved, and as the ball wriggled away from him, Kendall Waston cleared the danger away from the ‘Caps six yard box.
It felt like a TFC goal was coming and it was delivered in the 39th minute, with Altidore finishing off a fantastic passing move, collecting a near backheel from Marky Delgado, staying onside, and firing low past Marinovic for the important first goal of the night.
Vancouver knew they had to score heading into this match, now they had to score at least two.
That job was made all the harder a minute before half time when Giovinco doubled TFC’s lead, heading home a Jonathan Osorio cross. The ‘Caps still needed to score at least twice, but now that would only be good enough to force extra time.
TFC came out looking for what would surely be the killer third at the start of the second half and Chapman forced another save from Marinovic three minutes in.
As Toronto kept the pressure on from the subsequent corner, Giovinco sent a cross in from the right through Marcel de Jong’s legs and Altidore ghosted in to grab his second of the night and put TFC into dreamland.
Certainly the stuff of nightmares for the Whitecaps and it was nearly worse in the 52nd minute when a quick passing move ended with Giovinco playing a nice give and go, getting the ball back, making room, and forcing Marinovic into another big save.
As the corner came in, Altidore ran to meet it at the near post and easily glanced a header home to grab his hat-trick and seal a great team performance from Toronto.
The problem for the Whitecaps was that there were still 37 minutes remaining. Now it was damage limitation time, although it was already past that point.
Kamara got some consolation for the ‘Caps in the 63rd minute, racing in on goal after being played in by substitute Nicolas Mezquida and finishing well past Clint Irwin.
TFC were happy to just coast through to the end though, and Nick Hagglund forced a save from Marinovic in the 69th minute.
Vancouver weren’t giving up either and they reduced the deficit to two with 13 minutes remaining when Erik Hurtado showed some nice skill in the box, cutting the ball back to Shea in front of goal, and the ‘Caps DP finished at the second attempt.
Was a dramatic comeback on? Well no, and Toronto restored their lead two minutes later when Ricketts headed home a Michael Bradley free kick.
Credit to the ‘Caps subs who wouldn’t give up and Irwin was forced to make a great save to keep out a Hurtado volley.
Ryan Telfer had a shot saved by Marinovic in what was to be the final action of the match.
The final whistle thankfully came to put the ‘Caps out of their misery as TFC celebrated their third straight Voyageurs Cup.
To take some positives out of this, the team didn’t give up and fought to the end, grabbing a couple of goals, but the difference in quality between two near first choice starting XI’s was striking. The Whitecaps defending continues to be poor and it feels that the time has now come from some sweeping changes. When you see the perceived second stringers continue to be the best players over the last few matches and you look at how some of the ‘Caps limited budget has been spent this year, big questions have to be asked.
Where do the ‘Caps go from here? Well apart from back home to take on New York Red Bulls, the season is now solely hinging on grabbing that sixth and final playoff spot in the West.
Other results are going the ‘Caps way and their MLS form has picked up of late. They’re certainly in with a shout, but whether that’s good enough to satisfy the supporters and the football committee is what waits to be seen.
There’s that pesky hope again.
FINAL SCORE: Toronto FC 5 – 2 Vancouver Whitecaps [Toronto win 7 – 4 on aggregate]
ATT: 14,994
TORONTO: Clint Irwin; Justin Morrow, Eriq Zavaleta, Chris Mavinga (Nick Hagglund 63), Ashtone Morgan; Jay Chapman, Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio (Tosaint Ricketts 78); Marky Delgado; Sebastian Giovinco (Ryan Telfer 67), Jozy Altidore [Subs Not Used: Alex Bono, Gregory van der Wiel, Tsubasa Endoh]
VANCOUVER: Stefan Marinovic; Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Doneil Henry, Marcel de Jong; Cristian Techera (Nicolas Mezquida 51), Russell Teibert, Aly Ghazal, Alphonso Davies (Brek Shea 51); Yordy Reyna, Kei Kamara (Erik Hurtado 63) [Subs Not Used: Brian Rowe, Sean Franklin, Efrain Juarez, Anthony Blondell]
REACTION:
*** Full postgame reaction to follow later tonight ***
Read Further on AFTN.ca
Sometimes the worst thing a football fan can have is hope.
Despite the massive disappointment of conceding a stoppage time equaliser to an own goal in last week’s first leg, ten man Vancouver Whitecaps’ 2-2 draw with Toronto wasn’t a bad end result all things considered. Certainly not great or ideal, but it could certainly have been worse. It gave them a fighting chance for the second leg. Some hope of getting the job done.
Saturday’s win in Portland, with an understrength side that was under the cosh for the whole second half, showed that the ‘Caps can go and grind out results in difficult places and against good teams. It put a spring in every Whitecaps player and supporter’s step heading into Wednesday’s Canadian Championship final second leg in Toronto. More hope.
But by half time, almost all hope had gone thanks to goals from Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco giving TFC what already looked to be an unassailable two goal lead, both on the night and in the tie.
By eight minutes into the second, it was distinguished altogether as Altidore completed his hat-trick. Goals from Kei Kamara and Brek Shea briefly made it interesting before a Canadian got on the scoresheet, as Tosaint Ricketts rounded off the scoring on the night to make it 5-2, and 7-4 on aggregate to seal TFC’s seventh Voyageurs Cup.
Carl Robinson made six changes to the starting line-up from the team that won 2-1 against the Timbers at the weekend. Alphonso Davies was cleared to play after struggling with a groin injury, and the Whitecaps certainly had what you would have classed as their first choice available starting line-up out there. But would it be enough to get the job done against the defending Voyageurs Cup and MLS Cup champs?
The Whitecaps task was a simple one in theory. Just win at BMO Field and a second Canadian Championship title was theirs. At kick off a 1-0 win would have sufficed.
It was an entertaining fast paced start, with both teams moving the ball well, although neither keeper really had much serious work to do.
The ‘Caps had the better of the early chances, with Yordy Reyna heading a Kamara cross wide six minutes in, while a Kamara break three minutes later saw little support and the chance fade.
TFC were offering little in attack, with Giovinco looking lively, but not threatening just yet, but he finally forced a save out of Stefan Marinovic in the 27th minute, with a low, bobbling free kick that took a deflection on the way through.
The home side started to noticeably turn up the pressure, with Chris Mavinga heading over just past the hour mark and Giovinco firing over a near Justin Morrow cutback just minutes later.
Vancouver’s own danger man, Davies, wasn’t getting the space to run and terrorise the Toronto defence but he got onto a Russell Teibert header at the edge of the box in the 34th minute, taking a step inside before curling an outswinging shot past the right hand post in his first real opportunity of the match.
Toronto responded with a Jay Chapman shot from in close, which Marinovic saved, and as the ball wriggled away from him, Kendall Waston cleared the danger away from the ‘Caps six yard box.
It felt like a TFC goal was coming and it was delivered in the 39th minute, with Altidore finishing off a fantastic passing move, collecting a near backheel from Marky Delgado, staying onside, and firing low past Marinovic for the important first goal of the night.
Vancouver knew they had to score heading into this match, now they had to score at least two.
That job was made all the harder a minute before half time when Giovinco doubled TFC’s lead, heading home a Jonathan Osorio cross. The ‘Caps still needed to score at least twice, but now that would only be good enough to force extra time.
TFC came out looking for what would surely be the killer third at the start of the second half and Chapman forced another save from Marinovic three minutes in.
As Toronto kept the pressure on from the subsequent corner, Giovinco sent a cross in from the right through Marcel de Jong’s legs and Altidore ghosted in to grab his second of the night and put TFC into dreamland.
Certainly the stuff of nightmares for the Whitecaps and it was nearly worse in the 52nd minute when a quick passing move ended with Giovinco playing a nice give and go, getting the ball back, making room, and forcing Marinovic into another big save.
As the corner came in, Altidore ran to meet it at the near post and easily glanced a header home to grab his hat-trick and seal a great team performance from Toronto.
The problem for the Whitecaps was that there were still 37 minutes remaining. Now it was damage limitation time, although it was already past that point.
Kamara got some consolation for the ‘Caps in the 63rd minute, racing in on goal after being played in by substitute Nicolas Mezquida and finishing well past Clint Irwin.
TFC were happy to just coast through to the end though, and Nick Hagglund forced a save from Marinovic in the 69th minute.
Vancouver weren’t giving up either and they reduced the deficit to two with 13 minutes remaining when Erik Hurtado showed some nice skill in the box, cutting the ball back to Shea in front of goal, and the ‘Caps DP finished at the second attempt.
Was a dramatic comeback on? Well no, and Toronto restored their lead two minutes later when Ricketts headed home a Michael Bradley free kick.
Credit to the ‘Caps subs who wouldn’t give up and Irwin was forced to make a great save to keep out a Hurtado volley.
Ryan Telfer had a shot saved by Marinovic in what was to be the final action of the match.
The final whistle thankfully came to put the ‘Caps out of their misery as TFC celebrated their third straight Voyageurs Cup.
To take some positives out of this, the team didn’t give up and fought to the end, grabbing a couple of goals, but the difference in quality between two near first choice starting XI’s was striking. The Whitecaps defending continues to be poor and it feels that the time has now come from some sweeping changes. When you see the perceived second stringers continue to be the best players over the last few matches and you look at how some of the ‘Caps limited budget has been spent this year, big questions have to be asked.
Where do the ‘Caps go from here? Well apart from back home to take on New York Red Bulls, the season is now solely hinging on grabbing that sixth and final playoff spot in the West.
Other results are going the ‘Caps way and their MLS form has picked up of late. They’re certainly in with a shout, but whether that’s good enough to satisfy the supporters and the football committee is what waits to be seen.
There’s that pesky hope again.
FINAL SCORE: Toronto FC 5 – 2 Vancouver Whitecaps [Toronto win 7 – 4 on aggregate]
ATT: 14,994
TORONTO: Clint Irwin; Justin Morrow, Eriq Zavaleta, Chris Mavinga (Nick Hagglund 63), Ashtone Morgan; Jay Chapman, Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio (Tosaint Ricketts 78); Marky Delgado; Sebastian Giovinco (Ryan Telfer 67), Jozy Altidore [Subs Not Used: Alex Bono, Gregory van der Wiel, Tsubasa Endoh]
VANCOUVER: Stefan Marinovic; Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Doneil Henry, Marcel de Jong; Cristian Techera (Nicolas Mezquida 51), Russell Teibert, Aly Ghazal, Alphonso Davies (Brek Shea 51); Yordy Reyna, Kei Kamara (Erik Hurtado 63) [Subs Not Used: Brian Rowe, Sean Franklin, Efrain Juarez, Anthony Blondell]
REACTION:
*** Full postgame reaction to follow later tonight ***
Read Further on AFTN.ca
