Vancouver Whitecaps FC advances to Canadian Championship Final
Vancouver Whitecaps FC will get a chance to defend their title in the 2023 Canadian Championship Final when they face visiting CF Montréal in June. The Vancouver club advanced to the 2023 Final after their 3:0 win over Langford’s Pacific FC in the Semi-Finals on Wednesday 24 May.
Julian Gressel, Ali Ahmed and Simon Becher scored the goals while goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka and his backline posted the clean sheet. Takaoka earned Vancouver’s Player of the Match honours.
Ahmed suffered an injury in the first half and was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
Vancouver opened the scoring on a counter attack in which Alessandro Schöpf played the ball right into the path of teammate Gressel on the right. Gressel steadied his run and one-time a terrific shot that beat the teenaged goalkeeper Emil Gazdov.
Ahmed then made it 2-0 after Pacific FC failed to clear the box following a Vancouver throw in and a couple of headed balls. From Young’s attempted clearance, Ahmed made the interception and beat the goalkeeper with his shot.
Becher completed the scoring in the 79th minute on a right-footed shot from inside the box. On the play, Pedro Vite carried the ball up the field and played it to Becher inside the box.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC are two-time Canadian Championship winners, having lifted the Voyageurs Cup in 2015 and 2022. They defeated Toronto FC on kicks from the penalty mark last year and previously beat Montréal in the 2015 Final at BC Place.