Whitecaps Defeat Vancouver FC, Win Fourth Voyageurs Cup in Four Years
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By Kaus Pandey
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Summary:
- Vancouver Whitecaps rose above Vancouver FC at 4-2 in the championship final, collecting their fourth consecutive Voyageurs Cup.
- Ali Ahmed scored twice, while Thomas Müller added a goal and an assist and became the most decorated German footballer.
- Captain Ryan Gauld returned from injury with a goal.
The Vancouver Whitecaps once again proved they rule over Canadian soccer after grabbing the Voyageurs Cup for the fourth straight year with a 4-2 win over Vancouver FC on Wednesday night at B.C. Place.
Ali Ahmed was the star of the night. The 24-year-old midfielder scored twice, first within the first five minutes with assistance from Thomas Müller, who slipped him a pass at the top of the box. Ahmed lost no time and sliced through the defense, firing a low strike straight into the bottom corner.
Just a few moments later, he drew a foul inside the six-yard box, giving the German veteran the chance to step up to the spot by burying the penalty. Müller notched the 300th goal of his career and his 35th career trophy, which turned him into the most decorated German player in history.
While Vancouver FC competed in its first Canadian Championship final, it didn’t fold easily. In the 35th minute, Nicolas Mezquida, a former Whitecaps midfielder, sent Thierno Bah on a breakaway. Bah outran the defense and slipped the ball past keeper Isaac Boehmer to make it 2-1.
The Whitecaps were quick to respond with help from Sebastian Berhalter’s floated ball that generated chaos in front of the goal. After Callum Irving punched it away, Ahmed pounced on the rebound to secure his brace.
Captain Gauld’s Excellent Comeback
Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld received ovations from the crowd in the 79th minute when he entered the field, finally returning from a long injury layoff that prevented him from playing since March. Just four minutes in, Gauld made his presence felt with a well-placed strike from the edge of the box, giving Vancouver a 4-1 lead and sparking loud cheers from the 18,372 in attendance.
Vancouver FC managed a late consolation when Bah and Mezquida combined again in the 85th minute, with Mezquida sliding a shot past Boehmer to bring the score to 4-2.
Despite the late push, the night belonged to the Whitecaps, who now join Toronto FC as the only clubs to win four Canadian Championship titles in a row.
The win also marked the first-ever competitive meeting between the Whitecaps and Vancouver FC, a clash that added an extra layer of excitement to an already historic night.
Next in line, the Whitecaps will return to MLS action Sunday against the San Jose Earthquakes, while Vancouver FC will head back to CPL play on Saturday, when they will meet Forge FC in Hamilton.
