Report and Reaction: Deflection gives Toronto narrow Canadian Championship final lead over Vancouver
As 1-0 losses come, Vancouver Whitecaps first leg Canadian Championship final defeat to Toronto hasn’t left us too downbeat.
The difference between the two teams was a bit of luck from a deflection of a Sebastian Giovinco shot, giving TFC a narrow one goal lead to take into BC Place next Wednesday in the second leg.
The tie is delicately poised but that lack of an away goal could still come back to haunt Vancouver.
The ‘Caps went for a Canadian-heavy line-up of mixed experience, with DP’s Pedro Morales and Octavio Rivero getting the start alongside 15-year-old Alphonso Davies.
Vancouver knew the importance of an away goal, or two, and went about trying to get one early.
Octavio Rivero had a couple of chances, seeing his header tipped over in the 4th minute before firing into the sidenetting two minutes later.
Neither side’s midfield was able to get a grip on the game and chances in general were very much at a premium.
Clint Irwin spilled a low Sam Adekugbe shot in the 26th minute, but Rivero was unable to poke home the rebound.
Toronto’s first real try in anger came in the 33rd minute when Paolo Tornaghi got down well to turn away a dipping Sebastian Giovinco free kick.
TFC took the lead two minutes before half time thanks to a lucky deflection. with Giovinco’s shot hitting off Waston, redirecting the ball past Tornaghi.
And that was that for the first half. Both teams were still very much in it, with a lot of football left to play out in this one.
Toronto made most of the running to start the second half, and Giovinco came close to adding a second when he crashed a 53rd minute effort off the right post.
Irwin had looked a little shaky at spells but had to be at his best to tip over a Kendall Waston shot in the 70th minute. Vancouver kept the pressure on an Irwin was called into action again to keep out a Bolanos shot at his near post.
But that was about it for the action. Both teams had a few half chances to see out the match, but nothing too threatening.
Toronto will head into the second leg as narrow favourites. An early Vancouver goal immediately ties things back up, but Toronto will be happy to play the waiting game and hit on the counter to grab the away goal that would completely change the dynamic of the ties.
The ‘Caps just need to control (or kick, I’m fine with either option) Giovinco. Once again Toronto showed that without him they have very little to worry teams.
Game on. We’re just a half time and there’s a lot of football left to be played.
FINAL SCORE: Toronto FC 1 – 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
ATT: 20,011
TORONTO: Clint Irwin; Steven Beitashour (Nick Hagglund 84), Eriq Zavaleta, Drew Moor, Justin Morrow; Benoit Cheyrou, Marky Delgado (Tsubasa Endoh 78), Will Johnson, Jonathan Osorio; Sebastian Giovinco, Mo Babouli (Jordan Hamilton 87) [Subs Not Used: Alex Bono, Josh Williams, Jay Chapman, Raheem Edwards]
VANCOUVER: Paolo Tornaghi; Fraser Aird, Kendall Waston, Pa Modou Kah, Sam Adekugbe; Russell Teibert, Ben McKendry, Christian Bolanos, Pedro Morales (Blas Perez 63), Alphonso Davies (Kekuta Manneh 67); Octavio Rivero (Erik Hurtado 79) [Subs Not Used: David Ousted, Jordan Harvey, Cole Seiler, Andrew Jacobson]
REACTION:
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
CARL ROBINSON
**** to follow ****
Read Further on AFTN.ca
As 1-0 losses come, Vancouver Whitecaps first leg Canadian Championship final defeat to Toronto hasn’t left us too downbeat.
The difference between the two teams was a bit of luck from a deflection of a Sebastian Giovinco shot, giving TFC a narrow one goal lead to take into BC Place next Wednesday in the second leg.
The tie is delicately poised but that lack of an away goal could still come back to haunt Vancouver.
The ‘Caps went for a Canadian-heavy line-up of mixed experience, with DP’s Pedro Morales and Octavio Rivero getting the start alongside 15-year-old Alphonso Davies.
Vancouver knew the importance of an away goal, or two, and went about trying to get one early.
Octavio Rivero had a couple of chances, seeing his header tipped over in the 4th minute before firing into the sidenetting two minutes later.
Neither side’s midfield was able to get a grip on the game and chances in general were very much at a premium.
Clint Irwin spilled a low Sam Adekugbe shot in the 26th minute, but Rivero was unable to poke home the rebound.
Toronto’s first real try in anger came in the 33rd minute when Paolo Tornaghi got down well to turn away a dipping Sebastian Giovinco free kick.
TFC took the lead two minutes before half time thanks to a lucky deflection. with Giovinco’s shot hitting off Waston, redirecting the ball past Tornaghi.
And that was that for the first half. Both teams were still very much in it, with a lot of football left to play out in this one.
Toronto made most of the running to start the second half, and Giovinco came close to adding a second when he crashed a 53rd minute effort off the right post.
Irwin had looked a little shaky at spells but had to be at his best to tip over a Kendall Waston shot in the 70th minute. Vancouver kept the pressure on an Irwin was called into action again to keep out a Bolanos shot at his near post.
But that was about it for the action. Both teams had a few half chances to see out the match, but nothing too threatening.
Toronto will head into the second leg as narrow favourites. An early Vancouver goal immediately ties things back up, but Toronto will be happy to play the waiting game and hit on the counter to grab the away goal that would completely change the dynamic of the ties.
The ‘Caps just need to control (or kick, I’m fine with either option) Giovinco. Once again Toronto showed that without him they have very little to worry teams.
Game on. We’re just a half time and there’s a lot of football left to be played.
FINAL SCORE: Toronto FC 1 – 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
ATT: 20,011
TORONTO: Clint Irwin; Steven Beitashour (Nick Hagglund 84), Eriq Zavaleta, Drew Moor, Justin Morrow; Benoit Cheyrou, Marky Delgado (Tsubasa Endoh 78), Will Johnson, Jonathan Osorio; Sebastian Giovinco, Mo Babouli (Jordan Hamilton 87) [Subs Not Used: Alex Bono, Josh Williams, Jay Chapman, Raheem Edwards]
VANCOUVER: Paolo Tornaghi; Fraser Aird, Kendall Waston, Pa Modou Kah, Sam Adekugbe; Russell Teibert, Ben McKendry, Christian Bolanos, Pedro Morales (Blas Perez 63), Alphonso Davies (Kekuta Manneh 67); Octavio Rivero (Erik Hurtado 79) [Subs Not Used: David Ousted, Jordan Harvey, Cole Seiler, Andrew Jacobson]
REACTION:
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
CARL ROBINSON
**** to follow ****
Read Further on AFTN.ca
