Whitecaps advance to Canadian Championship semifinal with win over York
TORONTO — The Vancouver Whitecaps opened defence of their Canadian Championship with a 4-1 quarterfinal victory over York United FC on Wednesday, benefiting from some lucky bounces to set off a second-half outburst that carried them previous the Canadian Premier League facet.
York conceded an personal purpose with the Whitecaps’ Simon Becher and Levonte Johnson including insurance coverage objectives. Austin Ricci pulled one again for York within the ninetieth minute solely to see Vancouver’s Julian Gressel rating on a stoppage-time penalty.
The sport was scoreless till the sixty fourth minute with 4 extra objectives coming after the seventy fifth minute.
The groups performed a scoreless first half with York rising in confidence after a shaky begin. The Whitecaps had extra of the ball and created possibilities however lacked medical ending. Vancouver outshot York 12-2 within the first half however solely put two of these heading in the right direction, in comparison with one for York.
Goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos made some massive saves early within the second half to maintain the Whitecaps off the board.
Vancouver’s breakthrough got here within the sixty fourth minute after Ali Ahmed despatched in a harmful low cross. Giantsopoulos obtained a foot to it however the ball went to Whitecaps captain Russell Teibert whose shot hit the crossbar after which bounced in off the again of York’s Elijah Adekugbe, who knew nothing about it.
Giantsopoulos gifted Vancouver a second purpose within the 76th minute, popping out of his penalty field to move away a ball from the chasing Johnson. The York ‘keeper obtained to the ball first however his clearance went straight to Becher who managed it after which calmly lofted it into the vacated purpose.
Johnson, a Whitecaps FC 2 participant who signed a short-term deal earlier within the day, tucked the ball previous Giantsopoulos within the 88th minute.
Pacific FC hosted TSS Rovers FC within the late quarterfinal Wednesday in Langford, B.C. Rovers, a semi-pro facet that performs within the B.C. League1 upset Valour FC of the CPL within the preliminary spherical.
Vancouver will host the Pacific-TSS Rovers winner within the May 23 semifinals whereas CF Montreal entertains CPL champion Forge FC.
On Tuesday, Montreal gained 2-1 at Toronto FC and Forge defeated visiting Atletico Ottawa in a penalty shootout (3-2) after the sport completed knotted at 1-1 in regulation time.
Vancouver and Toronto, as final yr’s finalists, obtained preliminary-round byes within the 14-team event.
Vancouver coach Vanni Sartini made seven modifications to the beginning 11 that beat visiting Minnesota United 3-2 in MLS play Saturday, retaining 4 key gamers in goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, centre backs Ranko Veselinovic and Tristan Blackmon and attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld.
Gauld, a delegated participant for the Whitecaps, earned US$2.265 million final yr, nearly thrice the CPL staff wage cap of C$1.025 million this season.
The Whitecaps began three Canadians, the minimal allowed below event guidelines, whereas York had 5 Canadians listed on its lineup sheet. Teibert made his thirtieth profession Canadian Championship look,
York was with out the injured Mo Babouli, Jeremy Lapare-Gagnon, Michael Petrasso and Jonathan Grant
After struggling back-to-back losses to open the MLS season, the Whitecaps arrived at York Lions Stadium unbeaten of their final eight league outings (3-5-0). Vancouver (3-2-5) outscored the opposition 12-5 throughout that run whereas posting 4 shutouts.
York (1-3-0) sits in seventh spot early within the Canadian Premier League season with simply three objectives within the 4 league outings. It edged enlargement Vancouver FC within the preliminary spherical of the cup competitors.
It was a nice 18 levels Celsius at kickoff at York Lions Stadium.
York was slightly shaky to start out with the Whitecaps discovering area. But the house facet survived the early minutes, gained confidence and launched some assaults of its personal.
York captain Roger Thompson, a veteran defender who had performed simply 63 minutes this season on account of a hip damage, exited within the twenty fifth minute.
Takaoka was referred to as into motion within the thirty first minute when York ahead Osaze De Rosario’s header was heading in the right direction. De Rosario had one other likelihood three minutes later however his shot missed the mark.
York lived dangerously with a few of its passing and defending with Vancouver’s Gauld trying to set off a fast counterattack.
Lassana Faye examined Takaoka within the 53rd minute with a curling free kick that appeared to catch the Whitecaps ‘keeper unexpectedly. A minute later, Kevin Santos’ deflection of a York cross went simply large.
Vancouver answered with a nook that resulted in a deflected shot that simply missed. And Giantsopoulos made a diving save within the 58th minute to parry a tough Gauld shot, doing it once more 4 minutes later.
York made the semifinals of the 2022 cup competitors, defeating Atletico Ottawa and Pacific FC in penalty shootouts earlier than dropping 2-1 at Vancouver. York coach Martin Nash captained the Whitecaps of their USL days retiring in October 2019 earlier than the staff entered MLS.
York misplaced 4-0 to Toronto within the 2021 cup quarterfinal.
Vancouver has gained the Canadian Championship twice (additionally profitable in 2015), ending runner-up seven instances since 2008.
The Whitecaps, who left by constitution after Wednesday’s sport, go to Portland on Saturday. York performs at Pacific FC on Sunday.
