Vancouver Whitecaps v Toronto FC – The Final First Leg Story In Pictures
When they come to write the book on Vancouver Whitecaps’ Canadian Championship history in years to come, future readers will be sceptical when it comes to all the misfortune that befall one club in one tournament. Is this a work on fiction they’ll ask, but sadly not will be the reply. When it comes to the Voyageurs Cup, the ‘Caps do seem cursed.
A sending off, some blown calls, a last second own goal. Every year it never fails to amaze me how the Whitecaps are hit with new ways to stop them getting their hands on the trophy. Was 2015 a fluke? Did some satanic deal see them get the job done? Was it a conspiracy to sell more hover boards?
Whatever it was, when will we see the likes again? Well, the Whitecaps aren’t out of this one just yet. It may feel all doom and gloom after giving up two away goals in Wednesday’s first leg, but a win in Toronto and the trophy will be coming back to Vancouver for a second time.
A tall order, but Kei Kamara’s penalty and Erik Hurtado’s fantastic finish do give the ‘Caps some hope. But you just have to feel that Felipe’s sending off, a missed foul on Hurtado in the build up to TFC’s second equaliser, and Doneil Henry’s own goal to give them that, could be the main talking points after the dust is settled in the second leg.
Mind you, in this competition, with the Whitecaps, I’m sure there’s still more drama ahead.
AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk (@ResidualImage was there to capture the action before, during and after the game. Here’s his “Story In Pictures”, with a full Flickr slideshow at the end.
Curva Collective’s tifo invoked memories
Your Whitecaps starting XI
The crossbar and ‘Caps don’t go together too well. So close to taking the lead
But the Whitecaps did take the lead in the 24th minute when Tosaint Ricketts inexplicably handled in the box giving the home side a penalty
Kei Kamara stepped up and finished with aplomb
Cue the celebrations in front of Curva
But the lead was to last only two minutes as Jonathan Osorio fired TFC back level
A crucial away goal as Osorio comes up big again in a Cup game
Then one of the match’s big turning points came as the game headed into first half and Felipe saw a straight red for a tackle on Marky Delgado
The ten man Whitecaps took the game to TFC in the second half and came close to retaking the lead when Alphonso Davies headed towards goal
But his shot was smothered by Toronto keeper Clint Irwin
More anger for the Whitecaps came later in the half when Yordy Reyna was brought down from behind by Justin Morrow as he headed to goal
A booking for the TFC man as Reyna rolled in pain and Robbo felt it should have been more
Vancouver still felt they could grab the winner and they did with minutes remaining as Russell Teibert found Erik Hurtado with a perfectly weighted ball forward. The striker took a great first touch and set himself up
Firing past Irwin to restore the ‘Caps lead and surely send them into the second leg with the narrowest of advantages
Sheer joy
But that was followed by complete heartache six minutes into the five minutes of stoppage time when Doneil Henry headed a Jozy Altidore cross past Stefan Marinovic and into his own net
Despair all round for the Whitecaps and a 2-2 final leaving TFC firmly in the driving seat for the second leg
You can see all of Tom’s photos from the game HERE and in our full Flickr slideshow below:
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