Vancouver scoring drought continues By BOB MACKIN
BURNABY, B.C. -- Toronto FC is on the cusp of winning its second consecutive Nutrilite Canadian Championship.
The Major League Soccer club registered a scoreless draw with the host Vancouver Whitecaps of the United States Soccer Federation Division 2 on Wednesday in the three-team playoff to determine a Canadian entry in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Toronto, 2-1-0, hosts Vancouver June 2. The 0-2-0 Whitecaps, however, must win May 26 in Montreal to remain a contender. Third-place Montreal, the 2008 champion, lost twice to Toronto and tied Vancouver and can only be a spoiler.
Whitecaps’ goalkeeper Jay Nolly and Toronto counterpart Sam Cronin shared the shutout. Nolly was tested several times late in the match as Toronto pierced the Vancouver defense. Amadou Sanyang’s 30-yard shot went over the crossbar in the 79th minute while Nolly parried Dwayne De Rosario’s 83rd minute attempt inside the penalty area.
Ricardo Sanchez shot wide on a 25-yard free kick in the 52nd minute for the Whitecaps. Head coach Teitur Thordarson inserted captain Martin Nash in the 66th minute but that failed to spur the Caps.
The Nutrilite series winner will meet Motagua of Honduras in July, according to the results of the CONCACAF draw held Wednesday in New York.
bob.mackin@sunmedia.ca
