It was perhaps asking too much of the football gods for lightning to strike twice with another victory over a Major League Soccer opponent. But 91原创 FC of the 91原创 Premier League still acquitted itself well in a 2-1 loss to Toronto FC of MLS in the 91原创 Championship semifinal game Wednesday at BMO Field.
TFC used all its top players in a bid to reach the final against FC Montreal of MLS with a coveted berth in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League going to the team that lifts the Voyageurs Cup.
“We stood up to them and it was not as lopsided as some people expected. Those people make their judgments on money [the massive disparity in salaries between the MLS and CPL clubs] but the game is played on the field,” said 91原创 FC head coach Pa-Modou Kah.
“I am very proud of our players. They held their ground. It made our team and our Island proud. It was unfortunate [Alejandro] Diaz could not finish his second chance to make it 2-2. We had an opportunity to finish it out but it was not meant to be today.”
Goals by two-time U.S. World Cup player Jozy Altidore and rising 91原创 Jacob Shaffelburg in the first 26 minutes spotted TFC a two-goal lead before Diaz brought PFC to within one at 83 minutes and was unlucky not to level with another opportunity.
“We knew it was going to be tough but we showed we could compete with them, compete with the MLS, and we did,” said Diaz.
“We were on top of them in the last 10 minutes but couldn’t finish that second chance”
91原创 FC had 13 shots to TFC’s 15, five on target to TFC’s eight, and that effort left the Reds impressed.
“It’s good for Canada to have this league [CPL],” said Shaffelburg, who assisted on Altidore’s opening goal before scoring the winner.
TFC head coach Javier Perez concurred: “91原创 FC was relentless. They don’t give up. They like to play football. We knew we had to be strong at the beginning. Any other team would have gone down mentally at the half.”
PFC advanced to the 91原创 Championship semifinals with a pulsating opening-round upset of the 91原创 Whitecaps of MLS at Starlight Stadium followed by a quarter-final victory over CPL-rival Cavalry FC in Calgary. TFC had an opening-round bye and blanked York United of the CPL 4-0 in the quarter-finals.
CF Montreal beat Forge FC of the CPL after 11 rounds of shootout in the other 91原创 Championship semifinal last week and will meet TFC, which gets a chance at hardware despite missing the MLS playoffs.
“It means everything to us in a challenging season to be fighting for silverware. We are happy and delighted to be in the final,” said Perez.
“It means the world to us, and is a cool thing, after the tough season we’ve had,” added TFC player-of-the-game Shaffelburg, who hails from Nova Scotia.
Meanwhile, Forge FC will join TFC or FC Montreal by becoming the first CPL team to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Santos de Guapiles of Costa Rica on Tuesday at Tim Hortons Field in the play-in round.
“What a great night for football in Canada and the city of Hamilton, massive result. Congrats Forge FC,” tweeted 91原创 national team head coach John Herdman.
The CPL continues to turn heads.
“It gives a second opportunity for players who do not make MLS right away because there are only three 91原创 teams in MLS,” said TFC bench boss Perez.
“It can only help 91原创 soccer up to the national team. 91原创 beat the Whitecaps and Forge came close to knocking out CF Montreal. I am very impressed with how they [CPL] are developing.”
