Whitecaps leave it late to advance to Canadian semis

Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 Valour FC (Whitecaps advance 4-3 on aggregate) 

VANCOUVER, BC–The Whitecaps’ quest for a fourth successive Canadian Championship remains alive after they defeated Valour FC of Winnipeg, 2-1 on the night, and 3-2 on aggregate at BC Place. The Whitecaps join three Canadian Premier League sides in the semifinals:  Vancouver FC, Atletico Ottawa, and Forge FC of Hamilton who knocked out CF Montreal (who knocked out Toronto FC in an earlier round).

After the sides drew 2-2 in Winnipeg on May 20th, Valour were looking to make it an all-CPL final four. After being goalless for 80 minutes, the second leg came to life in a big way for the last ten minutes plus stoppage time. The Whitecaps stuck first in the 80th minute when Ranko Veselinovic found Emmanuel Sabbi at the edge of the area and the latter hit it first time and into the upper 90.

However, Valour would level the score six minutes later as Jevonte Layne headed in a corner from Roberto Alarcon. Just as it appeared the tie would head to a penalty shootout, Jayden Nelson was able to pick out Bjorn Inge Utvik who headed in just past Eleias Himaras to put the Whitecaps ahead to stay and they would hold on past seven minutes of stoppage time to advance.

The draw was made late Wednesday night and the Whitecaps will take on Forge FC in one semifinal (first leg in Hamilton), while Vancouver FC will play Ottawa (first leg in Langley, BC). The ties will take place during August and September with the Final set for October 1st. It is the first time since 2022 (for the COVID-delayed 2020 Final) that a CPL side will be in the Final.

The Whitecaps next play on the road against Colorado on Saturday (6:30pm PT, Apple TV) while Valour FC, seventh in the eight-team CPL at the moment, will travel to York United on Sunday (8pm CT, OneSoccer/TSN).

Photos by Gerrit te Hennepe

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