2021 Canadian Championship final explained

2021 Canadian Championship Final
Event:2021 Canadian Championship
Team1:CF Montréal
Team1score:1
Team2:Toronto FC
Team2score:0
Date:November 21, 2021
Stadium:Saputo Stadium
City:Montreal, Quebec
Referee:David Gantar
Attendance:12,000
Weather:Clear
Next:2022

The 2021 Canadian Championship Final was a soccer match played between CF Montréal and Toronto FC at Saputo Stadium on November 21, 2021. The match determined the winner of the 2021 Canadian Championship, Canada's primary men's domestic cup competition. It was the 14th final in the competition's history, although it was played before the 2020 final, which was delayed over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Montreal were technically the title holders as they had won the last played final in 2019.

Montreal won their fifth title following a 1–0 victory, qualifying them for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.

Teams

TeamLeagueCityPrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners)
CF MontréalMajor League SoccerMontreal, Quebec5 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Toronto FCMajor League SoccerToronto, Ontario8 (2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Background

This was the fourth time CF Montréal and Toronto FC faced one another in the Canadian Championship final. The first time, in 2014, Montréal won 2–1 over two legs to win the Voyageurs Cup and advance to the 2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League. Montreal subsequently made it to the Champions League final, where they were ultimately defeated by Mexican club América.

The most recent meeting occurred in the last played final in 2019, where the teams finished tied 1–1 on aggregate and Montréal went on to win a penalty shoot-out 3–1.[1]

CF Montréal

See also: 2021 CF Montréal season.

+CF Montréal's route to the final
RoundOppositionScore
scope=row style="text-align:center"QFHFX Wanderers (A)3–1
scope=row style="text-align:center"SFForge FC (A)0–0
(8–7 p)
Key: (H) = home venue; (A) = away venue

CF Montréal received a bye to the quarter-finals of the competition, where they were drawn against Canadian Premier League side HFX Wanderers. The match was hosted by Halifax at the Wanderers Grounds. The Wanderers opened the scoring against the run of play in the 27th minute with a goal from Cory Bent. Matko Miljevic replied for Montréal in the 35th minute to make it 1–1 at half-time. The second half was completely dominated by Montréal as the Wanderers failed to register a shot attempt, while Montréal had 15. Nonetheless, Halifax managed to hold the 1–1 scoreline until near the end of the half, when substitute Ballou Tabla scored in the 89th minute and added a second three minutes later to secure a 3–1 win for CF Montréal.[2] [3]

In the semi-final, Montréal were drawn against two-time defending Canadian Premier League champions Forge FC, who hosted the match at Tim Hortons Field. In a close game, Forge succeeded in causing problems for Montréal with a high press, but both sides failed to capitalize on their scoring chances. Scoreless after 90 minutes, the match went directly to penalties. A lengthy penalty shoot-out saw all eleven players from both sides shoot once, with the match being decided after Forge goalkeeper Triston Henry missed his attempt and Montréal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza proceeded to score the winner.[4] [5]

Toronto FC

See also: 2021 Toronto FC season.

+Toronto FC's route to the final
RoundOppositionScore
scope=row style="text-align:center"QFYork United (H)4–0
scope=row style="text-align:center"SFPacific FC (H)2–1
Key: (H) = home venue; (A) = away venue

Toronto FC received a bye to the quarter-finals, where they were drawn against neighbouring Canadian Premier League side York United, who had dispatched League1 Ontario side Master's Futbol 5–0 in the opening round. The match was hosted by Toronto at BMO Field. TFC dominated the match, scoring two goals in the first half from Jonathan Osorio and Ifunanyachi Achara, and two in the second half from Yeferson Soteldo and Noble Okello to round out a 4–0 win.[6] [7]

In the semi-final, Toronto met Canadian Premier League leaders Pacific FC, who had eliminated fellow Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the preliminary round, only the second time an MLS club had been eliminated by a non-MLS club in the competition's history. This match was also played at BMO Field, and Toronto leapt out to a two-goal lead in the first 26 minutes thanks to goals from Jozy Altidore and Jacob Shaffelburg. Toronto failed to capitalize on subsequent opportunities however, and an 83rd-minute goal from Alejandro Díaz brought Pacific to within one, but TFC managed to hold on for a 2–1 win.[8] [9]

Match details

width=25!width=25
GK 1 Sebastian Breza
CB 16 Joel Waterman
CB 4 Rudy Camacho
CB 3 Kamal Miller
RB 15
CM 2 Victor Wanyama (c)
CM 7 Ahmed Hamdi
LB 29 Mathieu Choinière
RW 8 Djordje Mihailovic
CF 30
LW 18
Substitutes:
GK 41 James Pantemis
MF 6
FW 11 Matko Miljevic
DF 19
MF 21
FW 22 Sunusi Ibrahim
FW 25 Emanuel Maciel
Manager:
Wilfried Nancy
width=25!width=25
GK 16 Quentin Westberg
RB 22
CB 5 Julian Dunn
CB 4 Michael Bradley (c)
LB 23 Chris Mavinga
CM 8
CM 14
CM 21 Jonathan Osorio
AM 10
ST 24
ST 6
Substitutes:
GK 25 Alex Bono
DF 2 Justin Morrow
MF 7 Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty
MF 18
FW 30
FW 77
FW 99
Manager:
Javier Pérez

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Toronto vs. Montreal - 26 September 2021 . Soccerway . 21 November 2021.
  2. Web site: Benedict Rhodes . Match Analysis: HFX Wanderers 1-3 CF Montréal — 2021 Canadian Championship . . 21 November 2021 . 22 September 2021.
  3. Web site: HFX Wanderers vs. Montréal - 22 September 2021 . Soccerway . 21 November 2021.
  4. Web site: Charlie O'Connor-Clarke . Match Analysis: Forge FC 0-0 CF Montreal (7-8 on PKs) — 2021 Canadian Championship . . 21 November 2021 . 27 October 2021.
  5. Web site: Forge vs. Montréal - 28 October 2021 . Soccerway . 21 November 2021.
  6. Web site: Toronto FC ousts York United FC in Canadian Championship quarterfinals . . 21 November 2021 . 22 September 2021.
  7. Web site: Toronto vs. York United - 23 September 2021 . Soccerway . 21 November 2021.
  8. Web site: Toronto FC beats Pacific FC, will face Montreal in Canadian Championship final . . 21 November 2021 . 3 November 2021.
  9. Web site: Toronto vs. Pacific - 4 November 2021 . Soccerway . 21 November 2021.