Canadian Championship 2018: Toronto FC headed to third straight final after routing Ottawa

Rudi Schuller

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Canadian Championship 2018: Toronto FC headed to third straight final after routing Ottawa image

TORONTO -- In a year that has been far from normal for Toronto FC, Wednesday night was one of the more routine matches the beleaguered team has played all season.

Facing second-division Ottawa Fury in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal round, TFC took a 1-0 advantage into BMO Field and thoroughly dominated proceedings en route to a 3-0 victory on Wednesday (4-0 aggregate).

The gulf in class between the two sides was apparent from the opening whistle even with Toronto fielding a reserve-heavy lineup. Ottawa looked to be steadfast at the back and hit on the counterattack while ceding possession to the home side, and the plan worked for much of the first half until rookie Ayo Akinola pounced on a loose ball to put TFC up 1-0 in the 36th minute.

From there the game opened up as the Fury needed goals, but it was TFC who ultimately benefitted from the increase in end-to-end action. In the 76th minute, Ashtone Morgan found striker Jordan Hamilton for a tap-in to all-but wrap up the tie. 

Not satisfied with just two goals on the night, TFC scored a third through substitute Jonathan Osorio. In the 84th minute, Osorio received a pass on the left flank and showed some fancy footwork to elude his defender and score his team-leading 13th goal in all competitions for Toronto this season.

At the end of the day, it was simply a case of the better team showing its ability to capitalize on mistakes, said Fury head coach Nikola Popovic.

"We have to understand that when we play a team with such [a high] level and quality, any small mistake [we make] they will punish us," Popovic said. "We tried to come back and risk a little bit more, open a little bit more, and Toronto was very good in taking the chances that we opened and to score two more goals. I think at the end Toronto is a fair winner in this game."

Toronto head coach Greg Vanney was full of praise for the visiting side, who he said gave TFC a challenge over the two semifinal legs.

"First and foremost we're happy to get through [to the final]," Vanney said. "Ottawa, in two games, have been a very organized group. They've been difficult to break down. I think as the game progressed tonight we were able to get into some better spots and get in some better attacks."

Vancouver moves on

After losing the first leg of their semifinal with the Montreal Impact 1-0, the Vancouver Whitecaps overcame the aggregate with a 2-0 victory at BC Place Wednesday night.

With goals from Yordy Reyna and Kei Kamara, the Whitecaps did what they needed to do to keep the Impact from advancing to the final for a second straight year.

Vancouver's victory sets up a rematch of the 2016 final, which saw TFC raise the Voyageurs Cup after a dramatic stoppage-time finish.

Rudi Schuller