Whitecaps FC through to fifth-straight Championship final

Vancouver Whitecaps FC will have a shot at ending four years of agony in the Amway Canadian Championship as they have booked their place in the tournament final against Impact Montréal after defeating FC Edmonton 2:0 in the second leg of the semi-final to wrap-up a 5:2 aggregate win.

Substitute Corey Hertzog scored a screamer and Edmonton’s Shaun Saiko scored an own goal as Whitecaps FC posted a comfortable 2:0 home win in front of a crowd of 14,892 at BC Place in Vancouver on Wednesday.

Whitecaps FC will now travel to Montréal where they will take on the Impact in the first leg of the tournament final on 15 May. The two sides will then return to Vancouver for the second leg of the final on 29 May.

Canadian international Russell Teibert was named man of the match.

Match Highlights: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2:0 FC Edmonton (5:2 on agg.)

“We’re happy to get to the final,” said Whitecaps FC coach Martin Rennie.

“Edmonton were organized and made it hard for us over the two games. It was a great shot and a fantastic goal by Corey Hertzog.”
For FC Edmonton Head Coach Colin Miller – it was a case of finding a silver lining in the defeat to a side from North American’s top league.

“Vancouver played well and put us under pressure, but I’m proud of the (young) players and there are many positives to come out of this performance,” said Miller.

“The future looks bright for FC Edmonton.”

Vancouver Whitecaps FC started the match with Brad Knighton in goal; and Greg Klazura, Andy O’Brien, Johnny Leveron, Jordan Harvey, Gershon Koffie, Jun Marques Davidson, Camilo Sanvezzo, Russell Teibert, Tom Heinemann and Darren Mattock throughout the starting XI.

Corey Hertzog replaced Mattocks in the 46th minute. Kekuta Manneh replaced Sanvezzo in the 61st minute. Erik Hurtado replaced Heinemann in the 74th minute.
FC Edmonton started Lance Parker in goal; and Eddie Edward, Mallan Roberts, Adrian Leroy, Antonio Rago, Chris Nurse, Neil Hlavaty, Robert Garrett, Michael Nonni, Massimo Mirabelli and Michael Cox throughout the starting XI.

Daryl Fordyce replaced Nonni in the 46th minute. Shaun Saiko replaced Mirabelli in the 58th minute. Sadi Jalali replaced Michael Cox in the 71st minute.
Adrian Leroy was sent-off with a straight red-card in the 51st minute.

The winner of the 2013 Amway Canadian Championship final will hoist the Voyageurs Cup and will go on to be Canada’s lone representative in the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League.