Nothing can be assumed in the Canadian Championship. Not when Hamilton’s Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League goes into BMO Field tonight with a one-goal advantage over Toronto FC of Major League Soccer in the second leg of their semifinal.
Island-based Pacific FC of the CPL, however, has more of an expected storyline to conquer tonight at 7:30 at B.C. Place Stadium as the Tridents are one goal behind the Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS in the second leg of their semifinal set following the Whitecaps’ 1-0 win in the first leg last month at a 5,103-supporter packed Starlight Stadium. The winner of the PFC-Whitecaps semifinal will host the single-game final for the Voyageurs Cup next month with the Canadian Champion gaining a berth into the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
It’s been a wild ride this year in the Canadian Championship for the Voyageurs Cup, this nation’s version of the FA Cup in England. The Whitecaps survived a 1-0 loss to Cavalry FC of the CPL at B.C. Place in the quarter-finals thanks to their 2-1 victory in Calgary and the away-goals tiebreaker. Saint Laurent of League1 Quebec upset the Halifax Wanderers of the CPL in the opening round while the TSS Rovers of League1 B.C. almost did the same against PFC at Starlight Stadium.
“This is what the country needs to grow football,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
“There are fine margins [in Cup play] and we go in with the full belief that we can make something happen in this game at B.C. Place.”
Giant killing of teams light years ahead in resources is what Cup play is famous for worldwide. Scottish import Ryan Gauld, who makes more than the entire PFC team combined, scored the second-half winner for the Whitecaps in the first leg of the semifinal at Starlight Stadium. Gauld earns $2.5-million US per season while the CPL salary cap is between $750,000 to $1.2-million Cdn for entire club rosters.
“There can be no hesitation to take on an MLS team. It takes personality and decisiveness and efficiency,” said Merriman.
Veteran PFC defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère said he will do whatever it takes tonight on the big stage of B.C. Place: “It takes personality and pride. I will do anything tonight I can to help us advance to host a Canadian Championship final at Starlight Stadium.”
That’s the commitment that is required. But it needs to be backed up by execution on the pitch. PFC is, however, in a freefall in CPL play and has won only twice in the last 15 games. That matters little in a one-off like tonight, said Merriman: “Past league results have nothing to do with tournament football.”
CPL teams are 5-15-6 all-time in wins-losses-draws against MLS teams, with PFC 1-2, with all three games against the Whitecaps.
