MLS Roundup: Vancouver wins first Canadian title

By Kyle McCarthy
Published

Vancouver Whitecaps 2 -- Montréal Impact 0

Whitecaps win Canadian Championship 4-2 on aggregate

Vancouver won the Voyageurs Cup for the first time with a comfortable home victory over the 10-man Impact at B.C. Place. The two teams entered this decisive second leg on level terms after a 2-2 draw at Stade Saputo a fortnight ago, but the Whitecaps pulled clear through goals by Octavio Rivero and Tim Parker to secure a place in the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League.

The match started cautiously, but the calculus changed when Impact defender Victor Cabrera procured his second booking on the half-hour. The extra space invited Vancouver forward and led to the opener through Octavio Rivero five minutes before the break. Rivero poked home from close range after a poor back pass from Nigel Reo-Coker presented Cristian Techera with an opportunity. Techera slotted past Impact goalkeeper Eric Kronberg and watched Rivero complete the move from inside two yards.

Cabrera’s dismissal left the Impact -- already without injured duo Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti -- with a considerable challenge ahead. Parker essentially secured the title seven minutes after halftime from a set piece. Pedro Morales delivered the corner and saw Parker turn home to double the advantage.

Montréal huffed and puffed in the late stages, but the Whitecaps managed the game well to ensure wild celebrations at the final whistle. Whitecaps captain Morales and Canadian Championship MVP Russell Teibert lifted the Voyageurs Cup at the conclusion to commemorate the club’s first title since moving to MLS.

Chicago Fire 3 -- New York Red Bulls 2

Kennedy Igboananike scored twice as the Fire ended the Red Bulls’ six-match unbeaten run with a victory at Toyota Park. New York placed the home side under pressure when Sacha Kljestan converted from the spot inside the opening quarter of an hour, but the Fire responded well. Igboananike completed an incisive move to equalize after 22 minutes before Patrick Nyarko gave the Fire the lead four minutes before the break. Ronald Zubar pegged the Fire back early in the second half after Kljestan and Lloyd Sam caught the Fire defense unaware with a short corner. Igboananike snatched his second inside the final 20 minutes to secure a deserved victory for the home side.

Colorado Rapids 2 -- Houston Dynamo 1

Kevin Doyle struck in the final quarter of an hour to propel the Rapids to victory at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The two teams exchanged first-half penalties to arrange the grandstand finish. Vicente Sanchez converted from the spot after Alex handled, while Brad Davis dispatched his attempt from 12 yards after Bobby Burling committed the same infraction. Colorado enjoyed the better of the play after the break and reaped the rewards when Doyle stooped over his marker to nod home Sean St. Ledger’s cross 11 minutes from time.