Toronto FC played out a goalless draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps before falling to a 4-2 penalty shootout loss in the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship Final at BC Place on Wednesday night.

First Half:

TFC Head Coach John Herdman rotated his side for the cup final, making nine changes from the starting eleven that featured on the road against Colorado Rapids on Saturday evening with Sigurd Rosted, Aimé Mabika, Kobe Franklin, Brandon Servania, Deybi Flores, Kosi Thompson, Tyrese Spicer, Derrick Etienne Jr. and Prince Owusu making way for Kevin Long, Raoul Petretta; Federico Bernardeschi, Jonathan Osorio, Alonso Coello, Matty Longstaff, Richie Laryea; Deandre Kerr and Lorenzo Insigne.

The Reds began early proceedings on the front foot, testing Vancouver’s backline with four goalscoring attempts from Federico Bernardeschi, Shane O’Neill, Jonathan Osorio and Richie Laryea within the opening 20 minutes in British Columbia.

After settling into the contest, Vancouver Whitecaps created opportunities of their own and Toronto’s Sean Johnson was on hand to make an important save to deny Fafa Picault’s powerful 35^th minute effort.

Moments later, TFC were awarded a penalty kick down the other end when Richie Laryea was hauled down by Vancouver’s Mathías Laborda, leaving referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin with no option except to the penalty spot in the 37^th minute. Federico Bernardeschi stepped up for the visitors and saw his effort saved by the goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer, who dove to his right to deny the Italian and keep the scores level at zero going into the half-time interval at BC Place.

Second Half:

Much like the first half, Toronto FC fashioned early opportunities to score the evening’s opening goal upon returning from the break. Richie Laryea first saw a long-range effort narrowly miss the target before Lorenzo Insigne volleyed Deandre Kerr’s low cross into the box a few inches wide of the mark within the first three minutes of the restart.

Seeking the all-important breakthrough, both TFC and the Whitecaps exchanged opportunities to take the lead with both shot-stoppers called into action in the closing stages. In the 83^rd minute, Toronto’s Sean Johnson made a routine save from Alessandro Schöpf’s long-range effort before Isaac Boehmer denied Federico Bernardeschi a late game-winner twice with a pair of crucial saves in the space of five minutes down the other end.

With the two rivals unable to break the deadlock in regular time, the Canadian Championship was set to be decided by a penalty shootout for the fourth time in tournament history. Canadian goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer saved two penalties for Vancouver and helped the Whitecaps win the penalty shootout by a score of 4-2 and lift the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship and earn a spot into the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.

The Reds wrap up their three-game road stretch with a return to MLS action against the Chicago Fire on Saturday evening. Kick-off from SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

LINEUPS

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC – Isaac Boehmer; Bjørn Inge Utvik, Mathías Laborda, Ranko Veselinović; Ali Ahmed (Ryan Raposo 46’), Andrés Cubas, Pedro Vite (Stuart Armstrong 85’), Sam Adekugbe (Sebastian Berhalter 72’), Ryan Gauld (C); Brian White, Fafà Picault (Alessandro Schöpf 60’)

Substitutes Not Used: Yohei Takaoka, Tristan Blackmon, Levonte Johnson

TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Shane O’Neill (Sigurd Rosted 72’), Kevin Long, Raoul Petretta; Federico Bernardeschi, Jonathan Osorio (C), Alonso Coello (Deybi Flores 84’), Matty Longstaff, Richie Laryea; Deandre Kerr (Prince Owusu 68’), Lorenzo Insigne (Kosi Thompson 68’)

Substitutes Not Used: Luka Gavran, Aimé Mabika, Kobe Franklin

MEDIA NOTES

• Toronto FC midfielder and captain Jonathan Osorio made his 32^nd Canadian Championship appearance tonight, tying Russell Teibert (formerly of Vancouver Whitecaps FC) with the most appearances in tournament history.
• Deandre Kerr earned the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship Golden Boot award after scoring a tournament-high five goals.

• Sean Johnson and Alonso Coello each made their 50^th appearance for Toronto FC across all competitions, becoming the eleventh and twelfth current TFC players (Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Deandre Kerr, Federico Bernardeschi, Shane O’Neill, Kosi Thompson, Kobe Franklin, Lorenzo Insigne, Raoul Petretta and Sigurd Rosted) to reach the milestone.
• Sean Johnson also recorded his ninth clean sheet of the 2024 season across all competitions (MLS regular season, Leagues Cup and Canadian Championship) and the fifteenth clean sheet of his career with Toronto FC.