Ottawa lead the way in 2019 Canadian Championship Qualifying Round 3

Ottawa Fury FC was the only team to win their first-leg match 3:2 in the Canadian Championship’s Qualifying Round Three with Montreal Impact drawing 2:2 against York9 FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps drawing 0:0 against Cavalry FC. The second-leg matches are set to take place on 24 July, when Ottawa Fury FC will play at home against HFX Wanderers FC of Halifax, Montreal Impact will play at home against York9 FC and Vancouver Whitecaps will host Cavalry FC of Calgary.
 
All three matches were well attended in the Canadian Premier League cities of Halifax (6,213), North York (4,996) and Calgary (5,129). This marks the first year that the Canadian Championship has expanded to feature 13 teams from five leagues across five rounds.
 
Ottawa Fury FC of USL and HFX Wanderers FC of the Canadian Premier League combined for five back-to-back goals in their first-leg match. With Fury FC scoring three away goals and getting the win, they will only need a draw in the return leg in Ottawa at TD Place Stadium to advance.
 
Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer and York9 FC of the Canadian Premier League ended their first-leg matchup combining for four goals in their 2-2 draw. After Montreal opened up the scoring just past the hour mark, York9 FC came back with two quick goals, both within five minutes of another, to take the lead. After a penalty in the final minute of play, Montreal’s Saphir Taider scored on a penalty kick.
 
Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer and Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League ended in a scoreless draw in their first-leg match. In the last minutes of the match Calgary’s José Escalante shot a laser beam off of his left foot but it was brilliantly saved by a fully stretched out Maxime Crépeau. 
 
About the Canadian Championship
The Canadian Championship is Canada Soccer’s highest domestic professional soccer competition and is the sole qualification route for Canadian professional clubs into Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League and onto the FIFA Club World Cup.
 
Dubbed the Battle of the North, the Championship sets itself apart from all North American professional sports competitions that operate on both sides of the border as the only one to hold an all-Canadian competition that leads to the international stage.
 
Canadian content is a focus of the competition and since 2017, regulations state that each team must field a minimum of three eligible Canadian Internationals as starters for each match.
 
In 2019, the Canadian Championship will feature 13 teams including three Major League Soccer clubs, Toronto FC, Montréal Impact FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC; United Soccer League’s Ottawa Fury FC; seven Canadian Premier League clubs, FC Edmonton, Forge FC, Valour FC, Cavalry FC, HFX Wanderers FC, Pacific FC, and York9 FC; Première Ligue de Soccer du Québec’s AS Blainville; and League1 Ontario champions Vaughan Azzurri.
 
The Voyageurs Cup has been awarded to the Canadian Championship winner since 2008. Created by the Voyageurs Canadian Supporters group, the trophy represents Canadian fans’ commitment to the game in our country. The George Gross Memorial Trophy recognises the Canadian Championship’s Most Valuable Player, with Jonathan Osorio the 2018 winner. The award is named after the late George Gross, an honoured member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame. New in 2019, the Best Young Canadian Player Award recognises the player 21 years or younger who makes the biggest impact in the Canadian Championship.
 
About Canada Soccer
Canada Soccer, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. Canada Soccer not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but also encourages Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at ww.migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io