Vancouver Whitecaps v Toronto FC – The Disappointing Derby In Pictures

Derby matches can be full of fire, fervour, and fantastic moments, both good and bad, that have supporters of both teams talking about the game for a while afterwards and left eagerly awaiting the next encounter. Or they can be like Vancouver Whitecaps against Toronto FC at BC Place on Friday night.

On an evening celebrating members of Vancouver’s 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl Championship winning side and inducting Tony Waiters into the Whitecaps’ ‘Ring of Honour’, the Canadian teams of the present served up a dire derby draw that reserved all of the real action for the closing minutes.

Terrance Boyd had missed a couple of sitters in each half to put the visitor’s ahead before Vancouver looked to have snatched a point when Yordy Reyna was brought down in the box and Fredy Montero tucked away an 84th minute penalty. But TFC had other ideas and a deflected 90th minute equaliser from Nick DeLeon through a crowd of players saw Toronto grab a deserved point.

I’m not sure what the legends of ’79 will have thought of it all.

AFTN photographer Tom (@ResidualImage) was there to capture the “action” before, during and after the game. Here’s their “Story In Pictures”, with a full Flickr slideshow at the end.

It was an evening to remember the Legends of ’79

As Jeff Mallett inducts the Whitecaps’ Soccer Bowl winning head coach Tony Waiters into their Ring of Honour

A true legend of the game in Canada, alongside a few others

Whitecaps past and present – how will the current crop be remembered?

It was also an evening the remember Brandon Bassi, the current SFU Clan player and former Whitecaps Residency player, who tragically died in a car accident aged just 19

On the pitch, the action was poor, with the Whitecaps struggling to test thee TFC defence

The match was putting the stale into stalemate when Drew Moor brought down Yordy Reyna in the box in the 83rd minute

Penalty!

Up stepped Fredy Montero

To finally drill home the opening goal

But TFC weren’t to be denied and Nick DeLeon low shot was deflected through a crowd of players and past Maxime Crepeau at his near post in the 90th minute

And the emotions from both sides could be clearly seen

You can see all of Tom’s photos from the game HERE and in our full Flickr slideshow below: