Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in conjunction with the Canadian Soccer Association, Montreal Impact, and Toronto FC, announce the schedule for the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship.
The three-club, six-match tournament win run from May 6 to June 17, with the 2009 winner advancing to represent Canada in the 2009-10 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Whitecaps will kick-off the tournament against Toronto FC at their BMO Field home on May 6 at 5:00 p.m. PT. The Whitecaps will then play Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo on May 20, which is also a 5:00 p.m. PT kick-off. The 'Caps will wrap-up their tournament campaign with back-to-back matches at Swangard Stadium on Wednesday, May 27, against Montreal Impact and Tuesday, June 2, against Toronto FC. Both home matches will kick off at 7:00 p.m. PT.
The Impact, last year's winner in the 2008 Nutrilite Canadian Championship, are still involved in 2008-09 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League. In fact, the Impact play their first match in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, February 25, at Montreal's Olympic Stadium. The first leg is expected to draw more than 40,000 fans for the encounter versus Mexican club Santos Laguna.
As 2008 champions, the Impact will host the final game of the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship on Wednesday, June 17. The Impact will host last year's runners-up, Toronto FC, for the 2009 tournament finale. Toronto will host Montreal on May 13.
Five of the six matches are played on a Wednesday night, with only the June 2 match between the Whitecaps and Toronto FC to be played on a Tuesday evening (just before the break for FIFA international matches).
All three teams will play four matches in the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship - two home and two away against each opponent. Each team receives three points for a win and one point for a draw. The first-place team will be awarded the 2009 Voyageurs Cup and advance to the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League. The CONCACAF Champions League winner advances to the annual FIFA Club World Cup.
