{
    "title": "Last minute goal scores Vancouver a spot in final",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-04 20:31:41",
    "published_at": "2015-05-21 07:02:00",
    "url": "https://news.canadasoccer.com/last-minute-goal-scores-vancouver-a-spot-in-final",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/dNEd",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "As a result, Vancouver will move on to face longtime Eastern Canadian rival Montreal Impact in the two-leg final. The Impact will host the first leg on August 12, with the second leg set for August 26 at BC Place.",
    "slug": "last-minute-goal-scores-vancouver-a-spot-in-final",
    "body": "<p>FC Edmonton lost a heart breaking game 2:1 in front of 3,803 fans at Clarke Field against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the second leg of the semifinals of the 2015 Amway Canadian Championships. Edmonton&rsquo;s Tomi Ameobi equalized the match in stoppage time before Matias Laba sent the Whitecaps to the Canadian Championship finals with a last-minute goal.</p><p>Whitecaps FC got the game&rsquo;s first goal on eight minutes from a penalty kick. After Eddies goalkeeper Matt VanOekel was cautioned for bringing down speedster Cristain Techera inside the box, Pedro Morales took responsibility for the visiting &lsquo;Caps and the captain slotted the ball into the corner.</p><p>The Eddies&rsquo; best chance to draw level in the first half occurred on the 12 minute mark, when midfielder Lance Laing crossed a ball into the box to Ameobi, but the six-foot-four striker was unable to get enough contact on the ball to trouble &lsquo;Caps &lsquo;keeper Paolo Tornaghi.</p><p>Shortly into the second half, Edmonton defender Eddie Edward crossed a ball towards the back post where teammate Lance Laing&rsquo;s header from 10 yards out went wide. The Eddies came close again on 59 minutes when Laing whipped in another cross but substitute Daryl Fordyce&rsquo;s volley would also head wide.</p><p>After pressing for several minutes, Eddies got the equalizing goal early in stoppage time when Frank Jonke was brought down inside the box to draw the game&rsquo;s second penalty kick. Ameobi stepped up to the spot and fired the ball into the left corner to draw even at 1-1.</p><p>Deep into stoppage time, second-half substitute Laba got the winning goal off a Vancouver free kick. After a scramble, the ball fell to Laba who struck the ball and beat VanOekel to make it 2-1.</p><p>&ldquo;I was very proud of the players,&rdquo; said FC Ed monton head coach Colin Miller. &ldquo;I thought we were far superior in the second half. I thought we missed really good chances and we had the Whitecaps on the ropes, but unfortunately we fell a bit short.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;It was a very difficult game,&rdquo; said Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. &ldquo;I stressed to the guys after Wednesday&rsquo;s game, that it is not an easy game against Edmonton. They got something to prove. They fight, they scrap and they run. And they&rsquo;ve done that again today. They want to show us, an MLS team, what they&rsquo;re all about. And they did that. I&rsquo;ve got to give Edmonton a lot of credit today. They fought till the very end. I wasn&rsquo;t happy that we conceded in the 92nd minute. I disagreed with the seven minutes of extra time, but I&rsquo;m glad that that he actually showed seven minutes of extra time because we were able to get the win.&rdquo;</p>",
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        "first_name": "Integration",
        "last_name": "Integration"
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