Vancouver Whitecaps' Ryan Gauld (25) scores past Pacific FC defender Juan Quintana during the first half of a Canadian Championship semifinal soccer match, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.(The Canadian Press)
This fall, a select group of Canadian soccer teams might gain a new member. Toronto FC is the only team to have won the Voyageurs Cup three years in a row, but the Vancouver Whitecaps are now poised to challenge that record.
The Whitecaps secured their place in the Canadian Championship final for the third consecutive year after a 1-0 win over Pacific FC on Tuesday. This victory came after they had also won the first leg of their semifinal 1-0 on July 10.
Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld expressed his excitement about reaching the final again. “We all play football to win and to win trophies, so to get back into the final and have a chance to win again would be really good,” he said.
The Whitecaps will face Toronto FC in the championship match at BC Place on September 25. Toronto FC advanced by narrowly defeating Canadian Premier League’s Forge FC 1-0 earlier on Tuesday.
Pacific FC, part of the CPL’s eighth-season league, found it challenging to bounce back after an early goal from Vancouver. In the 11th minute, Vancouver striker Brian White’s shot was initially saved by Pacific’s Emil Gazdov. However, Ryan Gauld capitalized on the rebound, scoring the goal. This was Gauld's 11th goal of the season across all competitions and makes him the leading scorer in Canadian Championship history for Vancouver with five goals.
Pacific FC's head coach James Merriman noted the difficulty of conceding early. “It's disappointing to give that goal so early in the way that we did. It was a poor goal for us to play inside like that and give them that opportunity,” he said. Despite this setback, Merriman praised his team's individual performances and their response in the second half.
An injury to White shortly after the goal disrupted the game. He was treated for a facial injury and then walked off to the locker room. Damir Kreilach replaced him as a concussion substitution. Vancouver’s coach, Vanni Sartini, reported that White was doing better but would likely undergo concussion protocol.
Despite White’s absence, Vancouver dominated the first half with a 5-1 shot advantage and controlling 79.4% of the possession. Pacific’s best chance came just before halftime when Dario Zanatta’s long-range shot was stopped by Vancouver’s Isaac Boehmer.
In the second half, Pacific's attack improved, with Zanatta coming close again in the 68th minute. Boehmer made a crucial save to keep the scoreline intact. Vancouver nearly increased their lead in the 79th minute, but Gazdov’s save and Kreilach’s subsequent header hitting the post kept the game at 1-0.
Pacific FC will resume their CPL schedule on Friday against Forge FC in Hamilton, while the Whitecaps return to MLS action on Saturday with a match against Austin FC.
