Vancouver Whitecaps' Doneil Henry, left, watches as goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic fails to stop the ball leading to an own goal after Henry got his head on it during Canadian Championship final action against Toronto FC in Vancouver on Aug. 8, 2018.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
The game didn’t go the way Greg Vanney had planned but the Toronto FC head coach was happy his team escaped with a 2-2 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps in Wednesday night’s opening match of the Canadian Championship final.
“The vision of the game wasn’t necessarily what we had anticipated but at the end of the day it’s the result that mattered,” said Vanney.
Whitecaps’ head coach Carl Robinson was left fuming over the game’s officiating, saying referee David Gantar had “spoiled the game.”
Vancouver looked to have the match won on Erik Hurtado’s goal in the 84th minute only to have disaster strike. Centre back Doneil Henry headed a ball into his own net while trying to clear a shot by Toronto’s Justin Morrow with about six minutes gone in extra time.
A BC Place Stadium crowd of 16,833 were left in stunned silence.
The Whitecaps had taken an early 1-0 lead in the 24th minute on a Kei Kamara penalty kick when Toronto forward Tosaint Ricketts was called for a handball in the box. Toronto midfielder Jonathan Osorio tied the game less than two minutes later.
“We gifted them the first goal with the hand ball,” said Vanney. “I guess they gifted us the last goal with the own goal.
“That’s part of the game when you put centre backs in tough situations. Sometimes those things happen.”
Robinson didn’t mince his words when talking about Gantar.
Vancouver was forced to play the second half a down a man after midfielder Felipe was given a red card for a tackle on Toronto midfielder Marco Delgado. Robinson said the play maybe deserved a yellow.
Robinson was also furious no foul was called on a play involving Hurtado, which resulted in the turnover that led to the own goal.
“It’s a clear foul in the leadup to the play,” said Robinson. “It’s another decision he got wrong during the game. A key decision at a key moment.
“He spoiled the game. It’s not a red card. He spoiled the game on live, national TV. Two good teams going at it and the 12th person has spoiled the game.”
The second game of the two-match, total-goal series will be played Wednesday at BMO Field in Toronto. The away goals give Toronto an edge.
Besides claiming the Voyageurs Cup, the winner earns a place in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League and an opportunity to win a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Robinson praised his players for showing “unbelievable character, unbelievable discipline” during the game.
Whitecaps defender Marcel de Jong called the result disappointing.
“A last second-goal own goal hurts us, but I feel positive for the next game,” he said. “We still need a result there. Nothing has changed.”
Toronto is on a roll. Including MLS and Canadian Championship games Toronto is unbeaten in the last six matches (5-0-1).
Osorio likes the team’s chances heading home.
“It’s in our favour with the away goals,” he said. “We’re a very confident team at home. We know we can beat anyone at home.
“It wasn’t the way we planned for this game to go. To take two away goals back home, we’ll take it.”
This is the seventh time the Whitecaps have reached the championship final, but their only victory was in 2015. Defending champion Toronto has won six times.