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It seems a Canadian Championship game between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC can’t happen without drama or controversy.
The latest chapter in their long and tumultuous history played out Wednesday at B.C. Place Stadium with a 2-2 tie in the opening game of the two-leg final for the Voyageurs Cup.
Erik Hurtado, called on as a 67th-minute substitute, slotted home an 84th-minute goal, and appeared to rescue the 10-man Caps just days after doing the same in a 2-2 league tie at Yankee Stadium against New York City FC.
“E-Money” has three goals this season in all competitions, all of them coming after the 80th minute.
But Doneil Henry, who had been a rock on the backline for Vancouver this year, headed a ball past netminder Stefan Marinovic for a 95th-minute own goal, dashing the home side’s hearts and leaving Caps crumpled on the pitch in disbelief.
“I thought the performance was terrific, especially in the second half, when we showed unbelievable character, unbelievable discipline, and were disappointed that we only scored one goal, and then obviously we get kicked in the teeth at the end,” said coach Carl Robinson.
“Really proud of them today. I thought we had to deal with everything … but the effort and the character shown was unbelievable.”
It was like 2016 all over again, when Will Johnson scored an injury-time goal to give TFC the Canadian Championship title on away goals.
The result means the Reds head back to BMO Field with a huge second-leg advantage, tied 2-2 on aggregate with two away goals. The Caps have to win next Wednesday’s rematch in Toronto outright, or tie with at least three goals to advance.
Here’s what else we learned Wednesday:
This tournament, man.
Highlights from a crazy first leg of the #CanChamp Final ⬇ pic.twitter.com/VO71JURpjt — Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) August 9, 2018
Red turns leg on its head
The game, and the two-game series, was upended by a first half injury-time straight red card to Vancouver’s Felipe. Diving in on a tackle on Marco Delgado, he came up wagging his finger at referee Dave Gantar, who was quick with the red — a call that stunned the announced crowd of 16,833.
Replays showed it to be a harsh call, and the officiating crew had to wait for security to escort them off the field when the halftime whistle blew moments later.
Gantar and crew were subjected to a torrent of abuse from the supporters’ section, as well as goaltending coach Stewart Kerr, who took the opportunity during the delay to sternly give them his opinion about the call.
While Robinson was caught on a live microphone in the game’s TV broadcast shouting “You again!” at Gantar, he had to wait until after the game to have his full say, spending the majority of his 10-minute presser railing against an official who has a history with both the Caps and TFC.
The Whitecaps coach vehemently disagreed with the straight red shown to his midfielder and questioned the consistency of the calls, as there were several tackles that went unpunished that were more blatant than the call that went against Felipe. A non-call on Hurtado three kicks before the game-tying own goal was at the top of the list.
“It’s a foul. It’s a clear foul literally in the lead up to play. It was another decision that he got wrong during the game, David Gantar, a key decision at a key moment,” a fumining Robinson said. “We’re talking about good players on the field now; top, top players you see today. You’ve got to get the officiating right, and it clearly wasn’t right today.
“I wish I could tell you in my mind at the moment. He spoiled the game. It’s not a red card, and he’s got that wrong. ‘It’s OK,’ is what I hear all the time. ‘It’s OK, there’s another game.’ But it’s not OK. It’s spoiled a game on live national TV today. Two good teams going at it, and the 12th person has spoiled the game. I’m fuming, as you can tell.
79' – This was a yellow card.
It probably could have been red. The 'Caps are causing TFC all sorts of problems here with 10 men and the crowd is LOVING it. #CanChamp #VWFC pic.twitter.com/HRECiANA1h — Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) August 9, 2018
“We get some terrible bad luck, we get some terrible calls,” he continued, questioning why his young players didn’t get the benefit of the official’s protection.
“That is a foul in the leadup to the goal. And if it was on the other centre-forward on the other team, it would 100 per cent be called a foul. But it’s not, because it’s Erik Hurtado. That’s wrong. Absolutely so wrong. It’s incredible.
“And I keep saying it, I keep talking about it, I keep writing reports about it, and nothing changes. ‘It’s OK, there’s next week.’
“We showed them we’re a good team. They’re a good team, they won an MLS Cup last year, they’ve got good players. But so have we. So it should be a really interesting tie … with whoever is in charge of officiating next week. Hopefully it’s about the teams, rather than … someone else.”
Gantar, a Canadian referee, has been involved in controversy with Toronto before. In 2015, he showed TFC defender Justin Morrow a straight red on a controversial call that the Professional Referee Organization was forced to make a statement of support on. And the year before, he waved off a game-winning injury time goal for Toronto against Chicago with no explanation, with midfielder Michael Bradley and coach Greg Vanney going after him in the tunnel.
“It makes no sense how you can continue to assign Canadian referees when an American team is playing a Canadian team,” Bradley said at the time. “It’s obvious that these guys are going to make an effort to show they’re not biased.
“It’s not the first time we’ve had (Gantar) this year. What can you say? He’s just not good enough.”
Gantar sent off two Whitecaps in the 2009 USL final with Montreal, and also sent Matias Laba to the showers with two yellows in a 2-1 loss to DC United in April 2015.
But the veteran official hasn’t exactly been a red-card machine in 2018, handing out just one expulsion in the nine Major League Soccer games he’s officiated in.
There was no VAR in the game, because it was a non-MLS sanctioned contest.
Blueprint for success
TFC came out in a 3-5-2, following the same defence-first strategy most visitors to B.C. Place employ, daring the Caps to break them down.
The Reds dominated the ball to the tune of 67 per cent in the first half, but broke forward several times on the left, outshooting the home side 3-1 in on-target attempts.
The defensive gremlins that have sunk so many home games for Vancouver bit again in the 26th minute, when the Caps left TFC’s leading scorer Jonathan Osorio unmarked centre-high, and he made them pay with a strong volley for his 15th goal in all competitions.
It deflated a crowd still on a high from Kei Kamara’s goal — and the dance celebration after — just moments earlier.
The Caps’ goal had come after a sustained burst of pressure from Vancouver. On a third consecutive corner, Cristian Techera’s out-swinger was inexplicably handled by Tosaint Ricketts, and Gantar wasted no time pointing to the spot.
Kamara’s stutter-step approach was followed by a rocket off the inside of the top corner, his second Canadian Championship goal of the season, and making him a perfect 5-for-5 on penalty kicks this season.
Davies watch
Alphonso Davies had a strong, if unspectacular evening, being faced with two defenders every time he got the ball wide. He had the opportunity to unleash a few of his trademark runs, all the time being clutched and grabbed.
His best moment occurred in the 75th minute when he stormed down the right flank, cutting between two outside defenders, two more inside, and firing a left-footed shot that forced Irwin into a diving save.
He went down with cramps in the 84th minute, replaced by Brek Shea.
This tournament, man.
Highlights from a crazy first leg of the #CanChamp Final ⬇ pic.twitter.com/VO71JURpjt — Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) August 9, 2018
League of their own
Both teams have important MLS fixtures this weekend, with the Whitecaps travelling south to take on the Portland Timbers — who are 11-0-4 since their last loss on April 9 — while Toronto returns home to host NYCFC in a crucial Eastern Conference showdown. Both Toronto and Vancouver are currently below water in the playoff race.
“We have a great game on Saturday against a really good team. I’m sure we’ll be the underdog again. They’re in good form at the moment,” said Robinson. “We need freshness and energy against a team that hasn’t lost in 15 games.”
That freshness won’t include Bernie Ibini, who mutually parted ways with the club this week, and will join UAE Pro League team Emirates Club. He never found any traction with the Caps, scoring just once in 25 appearances with the team, despite being the ninth-highest paid player on the team at $304,000 US.
The move clears the space in under the salary cap for the team to bring in El Salvadorian centreback Roberto Dominquez, who had his contract mutually terminated by his team, Santa Tecla. His move will be a free transfer, and the 21-year-old will join the team through the remainder of the season with an option for 2019, according to MLSsoccer.com.
jadams@postmedia.com
NEXT GAME
Saturday
Vancouver Whitecaps at Portland Timbers
8 p.m., Providence Park, TSN 1/4, TSN 1040 AM
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Vancouver Whitecaps FC thought they held the edge in the 2018 Canadian Championship final, as they were leading late in stoppage time, but an own goal at the death left them level with Toronto FC 2-2 in the first leg at BC Place on Wednesday.
Vancouver earned a penalty in the first half when Tosaint Ricketts handled the ball on a corner kick, and Kei Kamara stepped up to convert the spot kick.
But Toronto found an immediate answer, as Jonathan Osorio found a pocket of space and turned in Marky Delgado's cross to tie up the game just two minutes later.
Vancouver were dealt a blow just before halftime, as Felipe was given a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Delgado.
The game largely slowed down in the second half, but for the second game in a row, Erik Hurtado came off the bench and scored a crucial goal late, as his 84th-minute tally gave Vancouver the lead after the first leg.
It wasn't the winner, however, as Doneil Henry scored a headed own goal in the 96th minute to leave the game level and give Toronto the upper hand heading into the second leg next Wednesday.
Goals
24' – VAN – Kei Kamara (PK) | WATCH
26' – TOR – Jonathan Osorio | WATCH
84' – VAN – Erik Hurtado | WATCH
90+6' -- TOR -- Doneil Henry (OG) | WATCH
Three Things
THE BIG PICTURE : This was an up-and-down match, something that was perhaps a bit more open than most final first legs, and plenty of late drama. Toronto hold the edge with two away goals and an even series, and while Vancouver have work to do, they aren't out of it yet, certainly.
: This was an up-and-down match, something that was perhaps a bit more open than most final first legs, and plenty of late drama. Toronto hold the edge with two away goals and an even series, and while Vancouver have work to do, they aren't out of it yet, certainly. MOMENT OF THE MATCH : Henry's blunder at the end took all the oxygen out of the stadium, right before the final whistle.
: Henry's blunder at the end took all the oxygen out of the stadium, right before the final whistle. MAN OF THE MATCH: Bradley had a battling shift in the middle of the field for Toronto and helped set up the crucial own goal at the end for TFC. They'll be hoping he has another strong performance in the second leg next week.
Next Up
VANCOUVER, B.C. – The fate of the 2018 Voyageurs Cup hangs firmly in the balance after an eventful Canadian Championship first leg at B.C. Place on Wednesday evening in which Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Toronto FC played out a 2-2 draw.
A 10-man Whitecaps side dug deep, taking the game to the visitors in the second half after Felipe received a straight red card in first-half stoppage time.
They must have thought that they’d be heading into next week’s second leg with the narrowest of advantages after Erik Hurtado’s 84th minute go-ahead goal, but a Doneil Henry own goal in the dying seconds of stoppage time firmly swung the tie in Toronto’s direction.
“The scoreline is in our favor with two road goals,” TFC coach Greg Vanney told reporters after the match. “That’s a decent road result. We go home now with a need to try and win the game or keep the game in a good position for ourselves. The vision of the game wasn’t necessarily what we anticipated but it’s the result that matters when you go home.”
Vanney had spoken last week about using this first leg to set up the second, and he was pleased with how things played out. Their two away goals are huge. It was a good result, albeit if it wasn’t quite the game plan Vanney envisaged.
Vancouver will be left to rue their misfortune and missed opportunities after looking like the more dangerous side throughout, but as disappointed as they will be in giving up such a late equalizer, ‘Caps coach Carl Robinson was delighted with the character and fighting qualities shown by his side.
“Absolutely terrific,” was Robinson’s take on his team’s battling performance. “Especially in the second half where we showed unbelievable character, unbelievable discipline, and I’m disappointed we only scored one goal when our counterattacking was phenomenal, and then we get a kick in the teeth at the end with an own goal.”
Henry’s own goal could prove to be the crucial deciding factor in the tie, but for Robinson and his Whitecaps, the first-half dismissal of Felipe is what they see as the key decision in this first leg.
Robinson insisted the play, in which Felipe challenged Toronto midfielder Marky Delgado in the middle of the field was "not a red card," and saying the call changed the game in a negative way.
"I’m fuming, as you can probably tell,” he said after finishing his criticism.
