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The 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship kicks off Wednesday night at BMO Field as Toronto FC hosts Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the opening match of the championship. The match will broadcast live across the nation on Sportsnet starting at 20.00 ET (17.00 PT). Sportsnet’s Gerry Dobson and Craig Forrest will have the call. The six-match championship runs 6 May to 18 June in Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver. Each team plays home and away against two opponents. The top team not only wins the Voyageurs Cup, but also advances to the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League season. Last year, the Impact de Montréal won the Nutrilite Canadian Championship before reaching the quarter-final stage of the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League.
The 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship kicks off Wednesday night at BMO Field as Toronto FC hosts Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the championship opener. The match will broadcast live across the nation on Sportsnet starting at 20.00 ET (17.00 PT). Sportsnet’s Gerry Dobson and Craig Forrest will have the call.
The six-match championship runs 6 May to 18 June in Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver. Each team plays home and away against two opponents. The top team not only wins the Voyageurs Cup, but also advances to the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League season. Last year, the Impact de Montréal won the Nutrilite Canadian Championship before reaching the quarter-final stage of the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League.
Host Toronto FC will be looking for vengeance after an 0:1 loss to Whitecaps FC on Canada Day at BMO Field in 2008. Toronto FC did put together a 2:2 draw with Whitecaps FC eight days later in the return match at Swangard Stadium, but Toronto FC has yet to beat Vancouver in this competition.
As for Whitecaps FC, it is of course looking to make its mark on the Canadian football scene, especially against Toronto FC who plays in the higher league. Vancouver currently plays in United Soccer Leagues First Division, but will join Toronto FC in Major League Soccer in 2011. Whitecaps FC won the USL-1 playoff championship in 2008.
Heading into this match, Toronto FC is unbeaten in its three recent MLS matches. Last year, it finished second in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship with five points (one win, two draws and one loss). Whitecaps FC is also unbeaten in its last three USL-1 matches. In 2008, it finished third in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship with four points (one win, one draw and two losses).
Host broadcaster Sportsnet will show four matches in this year’s Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Along with the 6 May match, Sportsnet will also show the 27 May match in Vancouver (Whitecaps FC-Impact), 2 June in Vancouver (Whitecaps FC-Toronto FC), and 18 June in Montréal (Impact-Toronto FC).
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