VANCOUVER — Tristan Blackmon scored and the Vancouver Whitecaps won the Canadian championship on Tuesday, defeating Toronto FC 5-3 on penalties in the final.
It’s only the second time the ‘Caps have lifted the Voyageurs Cup following their win in 2015.
Brian White scored for Vancouver in the 19th minute, heading home Ryan Gauld’s cross.
Toronto equalized in the 75th minute when Lukas MacNaughton headed in a ball from Federico Bernardesci.
Toronto held 71.2 percent of possession and outshot the home team 18-14, including 6-5 in shots on goal, but Caps goaltender Cody Cropper had five saves.
Alex Bono made four saves for TFC, which has won the Canadian championship eight times in its history.
The Whitecaps beat Canadian Premier League clubs Valor FC, Cavalry FC and York United to earn a spot in the final.
Toronto had a first-round bye, then defeated CPL’s Halifax Wanderers and Major League Soccer’s CF Montreal.
With the score tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes of play, Tuesday’s game went to a penalty shootout.
Gauld was first for the ‘Caps and the Scotland designated player sent a shot into the top corner of the net.
Domenico Criscito took the first kick for Toronto and fired a ball past Cropper.
White then stuttered a step to mimic Bono and fired a low shot into the right corner.
Toronto’s Jordan Peruzza took advantage of Cropper’s early dive on the next attempt and put a ball on the opposite side of the goal.
Winger Julian Gressel took the third shot for Vancouver, beating Bono’s outstretched hand as he fired a shot into the corner.
Cropper then stopped a low shot from Canada’s Jonathan Osorio to give the ‘Caps the lead.
Vancouver designated player Andrés Cubas followed the save with a blast past Bono.
Federico Bernardeschi kept Toronto’s hopes alive, patiently waiting for his shot and then firing a ball into the net.
But it was Blackmon who scored the best game. The crowd erupted as the ‘Caps defenseman fired a quick shot past Bono for the win.
Former Toronto FC forward Tosaint Ricketts looked poised to give the Whitecaps the win in the 80th minute when he received a ball from White inside the box. His shot hit Bono’s hand and bounced off the post.
Toronto buried the equalizer in the 75th minute.
Jayden Nelson played a short pass to Bernardeschi at the top of the box and the Italian sent in a deep cross. MacNaughton came out of the pack and headed it past Cropper to tie the score at 1-1.
Cropper kept the ‘Caps ahead in the 60th minute, stretching to deflect a shot from Toronto star Lorenzo Insigne.
Toronto held 71.3 percent of possession in the first half, but it was Vancouver who had the better chances and outshot the visitors 9-8. Both sides had four shots on goal.
The ‘Caps looked to be in trouble in the 37th minute when Toronto won a free kick from outside the box. Isigne took the shot, sending a right-footed shot high over the Vancouver net.
Vancouver got on the board in the 19th minute off a corner kick.
Gauld sent a cross past White at the back post and the American striker headed it into the net, beating Bono’s left hand on the rebound. The goal gave the ‘Caps’ a 1-0 lead.
Lucas Cavallini almost started the scoring 35 seconds into the match. Gauld flicked a ball into the box and the Canadian forward sent a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net, only to see Bono dive to make the save.
The Whitecaps are back in action on Saturday when they visit Nashville SC. Toronto FC will face the Revolution in New England on the same night.
NOTES ON BREAD: An announced crowd of 24,307 attended the game in sweltering conditions. Vancouver is under a heat warning and the temperature was 30C at the start. … There was an audible cheer when Isigne’s name was announced before the game. The 31-year-old Italian was the long-time captain of Napoli in Serie A before joining Toronto as a designated player in June. … Vancouver edged Toronto 1-0 in MLS play back on May 8 … Both the Whitecaps and Reds had played MLS games Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 26, 2022.