Reds fall in Vancouver
Toure scores both goals as Whitecaps win
TorontoFC.ca
Toronto FC's title hopes took a massive blow Tuesday in Vancouver. (Toronto FC)
Toronto FC's hopes of winning the Nutrilite Canadian Championship took a massive blow with a 2-0 defeat against Vancouver Whitecaps at Swangard Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Reds needed to avoid defeat against the Whitecaps in British Colombia to lift the first trophy in the club's history, but they must now beat Montreal Impact by four goals in the final game of the tournament to advance as Canada's representative in the CONCACAF Champions League.
After dominating the possession in the opening half hour, Vancouver took the lead in the 31st minute through Ansu Toure. A shot from Wes Knight was saved by Greg Sutton but the rebound fell back to Toure who was able to score from close range. Sutton was making his second start of the season with Stefan Frei ruled out with an infected toe.
Toronto came into the game more after going a goal down and Whitecaps goalkeeper Jay Nolly tipped away a looping cross from Chad Barrett 10 minutes before the break.
The Reds almost tied the game in the 38th minute when Pablo Vitti split the defence and found Dwayne De Rosario on the edge of the penalty area but De Rosario's chipped shot was cleared off the line by Lyle Martin. De Rosario turned provide shortly after as he fed Vitti, but the Argentine forward fired a shot off the post.
In the 51st minute Chad Barrett found himself free in the penalty area but his close range header from a De Rosario free kick went straight to Nolly.s With Toronto pushing forward looking to tie the game, Charles Gbeke almost doubled Vancouver's advantage when he turned Nana Attakora in the box but blasted a shot over the bar.
With 13 minutes remaining De Rosario stung the palms of Nolly with a long range strike, and Toronto's inability to convert chances would come back to haunt them as the Whitecaps scored a second goal in the 81st minute. Gbeke laid the ball back to Toure who curled a left foot shot into the top right corner of the goal.
The Whitecaps held on for a 2-0 win and will now be favourites to be crowned Canadian Champions. Toronto will be without Kevin Harmse for the final game of the tournament in Montreal after he picked up his second yellow card of the tournament.
Line-ups:
Toronto FC: Sutton, Attakora, Serioux, Harmse (Velez 84), Brennan (Smith 84), Robinson, Cronin, Vitti, Barrett (Ricketts 67), Dichio, De Rosario
Vancouver Whitecaps: Nolly, Charles, Hirano, Martin. Parke, Knight, Toure, Gage (Trafford 58), Chin, Haber, (Versaille 83) Gbeke
Scoring summary
TFC 0 Van 1 Ansu Toure 31
TFC 0 Van 2 Ansu Toure 81
Discipline:
TFC:
Brennan - yellow - 56
Harmse - yellow - 63
Attendance: 5,688
