Whitecaps FC picks up opening win away to FC Edmonton

Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2:0 over FC Edmonton in the opening leg of the 2012 Amway Canadian Championship semi-final stage. Whitecaps FC strikers Eric Hassli and Atiba Harris scored the two goals in the first half.

Strong right from the opening whistle, Whitecaps FC created several chances in the first 10 minutes. In the sixth minute, Davide Chiumiento was unlucky to hit the crossbar. After 10 minutes, however, FC Edmonton started to push back and pulled itself into the game. Just as the host’s confidence started to build, however, Hassli opened the scoring in favour of the visitors.

Hassli scored in the 19th minute after taking a pass from Omar Salgado.

#canChamp Highlights: FC Edmonton 0 – 2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC

A second goal was scored just over 20 minutes later in the 41st minute. This time, Salgado’s cross hit the far post and bounced back. Fortunately, Harris was in the right position to pick up the rebound and tap it into goal.

FC Edmonton goalkeeper David Monsalve was called to make more saves in the second half, but did not concede again after the Whitecaps’ second goal. The match ended in a 2:0 victory for Whitecaps FC.

FC Edmonton’s starting XI featured David Monsalve in goal, Jonathan Joseph-Augustin at right back, Paul Hamilton and Kévin Hatchi at centre back, Fabrice Lassonde at left back, Dominic Oppong, Kyle Porter and Ilja Van Laeerdam in the midfield, and Yashir Pinto, Shaun Saiko and Sérisay Barthélémy up front.

In the first half, coach Harry Sinkgraven was forced to make one change, replacing injured Barthélémy with Matthew Lam (21′). In the second half, Sinkgraven replaced Porter with Paul Craig (77′) and Oppong with Chris Kooy (84′).

Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s starting XI featured Brad Knighton in goal, Greg Klazura at right back, Carlyle Mitchell and Alain Rochat at centre back, Jordan Harvey at left back, Gershon Koffie, John Thorrington and Davide Chiumiento in the midfield, and Atiba Harris, Eric Hassli and Omar Salgado up front.

In the second half, coach Martin Rennie replaced Harris with Michael Nanchoff (70′) and Hassli with Long Tan (78′).

The 2 May match was played at Commonwealth Stadium in front of 3,700 fans. Players of the match were Omar Salgado of Whitecaps FC and Paul Hamilton of FC Edmonton.

This year marks the fifth edition of the Amway Canadian Championship. Six matches will be played over four Wednesday nights, with the semi-final series on 2 and 9 May and the championship final series on 16 and 23 May. The four competing teams are Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, FC Edmonton and Impact Montréal.

Once again, all 2012 Amway Canadian Championship matches will be broadcast live on television. Matches will be broadcast on Sportsnet in English and TVA Sports in French. Fans can also follow the Championship on migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io/championship as well as via all of Canada Soccer’s social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr).