Soccer: Hassli Stunner Saves Whitecaps!

It was about as dramatic a finish as could have been hoped for. Eric Hassli’s added time wonder goal ensured the Vancouver Whitecaps will go to Toronto with every chance of claiming the Voyageurs Cup. Al Dannity looks back on a thrilling first leg in the Amway Canadian Championship Final.

Advantage Toronto
Aron Winter promised Toronto FC would push for goals in BC Place on Wednesday night and the Reds delivered. Ryan Johnson gave Toronto a 1-0 lead on 66 minutes as he head home a Julian de Guzman cross, silencing the 14,878 fans in attendance. It was no less than Toronto deserved as the Reds dominated most of the second half of play. Nick Soolsma could have made it 2-0 on 85 minutes but Whitecaps’ goalkeeper Joe Cannon came up big to keep the game alive. This was not what we expected. The Reds are a horrid 0-0-8 in MLS play while Vancouver is flying high in with 5 wins and 3 draws from their 10 games. Yet it was Toronto that looked in command for much of this game, it was going to take something special for the Caps to avoid a home defeat.

Hassli’s moment of magic
Eric Hassli has a habit of scoring fantastic goals, but he may never score another quite like this.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_k_dc-x-Po[/youtube]
That lightning bolt volley squared the tie at 1-1, ensuring the Whitecaps remain in the fight before the second leg in Toronto next Wednesday. Over the course of the 90 minutes, it was probably the right result. For all Toronto’s dominance in the second half, it was the Caps that started stronger. On balance, a draw was the fairest result and sets up a fantastic match-up in the second leg.

All to play for
Home advantage should be a big plus for Toronto and the Reds won their previous Canadian Championship match at BMO Field, a 2-0 win over the Impact. The terrible performances by Toronto FC in their MLS games to date however make home advantage look a decidedly weaker factor than usual. Winter and his Vancouver counterpart Martin Rennie each know how important it is to win this title. There’s bragging rights sure but a prize of even greater value lies beyond lifting the Voyageurs Cup. Whoever wins next Wednesday will progress to the CONCACAF Champions League. Toronto came close to making the final in 2012 and the Reds and Caps would both dream of deep runs in the competition next season. Only one will get a shot to do so. We’ll find out who next Wednesday.

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