The Vancouver Whitecaps earned some redemption on Tuesday.

After years of struggling in the Canadian Championship, the club finally lifted the Voyageurs Cup after beating Toronto FC in the final.

Winning the tournament has long been a goal for the Whitecaps, said head coach Vanni Sartini.

B次元官网网址淲e said from Day 1 that the Canadian Championship was one of our important trophies. We didnB次元官网网址檛 do well in the previous years. And it means everything because we are a very good team,B次元官网网址� he said after his side beat Toronto 5-3 on penalties.

B次元官网网址淪o today, we will remind everyone that we are 100 per cent a very good team. We are not the team whoB次元官网网址檚 considered an elite killer. So winning a trophy for us is really important.B次元官网网址�

Tuesday marked just the second time the B次元官网网址楥aps have won the Canadian Championship, following their victory in 2015. They had not been in the final since 2018.

B次元官网网址淎ny time you get a trophy, itB次元官网网址檚 awesome,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver striker Brian White. B次元官网网址淭orontoB次元官网网址檚 a good team and we struggled in this tournament in years past. So it means a lot for the club, for the fans to bring this trophy home.B次元官网网址�

Toronto has taken the title eight times. Earlier this year, the team won the pandemic-delayed 2020 iteration when they beat Forge FC in the final.

The Whitecaps beat Canadian Premier League clubs Valour FC, Cavalry FC and York United to earn a spot in this yearB次元官网网址檚 final.

Toronto had a bye in the first round, then downed the CPLB次元官网网址檚 Halifax Wanderers and Major League SoccerB次元官网网址檚 CF Montreal.

Toronto dominated 71.2 per cent of the possession on Tuesday and outshot the home side 18-14, including 6-5 in on-target shots, but it was Vancouver that had the better chances.

With the score knotted at 1-1 after 90 minutes of play, the game went to a penalty shootout.

B次元官网网址淚 was confident and I was also a little bit pissed. Because I think we deserved to win,B次元官网网址� Sartini said of going to penalties.

Ryan Gauld was up first for the B次元官网网址楥aps and the Scottish designated player sent a shot sailing into the top corner of the net.

B次元官网网址淢y thought on penalties is always before you step up, choose a site and donB次元官网网址檛 change your mind, donB次元官网网址檛 hesitate, be confident,B次元官网网址� said Gauld, who was named MVP of the game. B次元官网网址淎nd if the B次元官网网址榢eeper ends up saving it then merit to him. But as long as long as it went in.B次元官网网址�

Domenico Criscito took the first kick for Toronto and fired a ball past Vancouver B次元官网网址榢eeper Cody Cropper.

White then stutter stepped to fake out TFC B次元官网网址榢eeper Alex Bono and blasted a low shot into the right corner.

TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Jordan Perruzza took advantage of CropperB次元官网网址檚 early dive on the next attempt and put a ball into the opposite side of the goal.

Wingback Julian Gressel took the third shot for Vancouver, hitting BonoB次元官网网址檚 outstretched hand as he fired a shot into the corner.

Next, Cropper sent a low shot by Canadian Jonathan Osorio into the post to give the B次元官网网址楥aps an edge.

VancouverB次元官网网址檚 designated player Andres Cubas followed the save with a blast past Bono.

Federico Bernardeschi kept TorontoB次元官网网址檚 hopes alive, patiently waiting for his shot then rolling a ball into the net.

Tristan Blackmon scored the game-clincher. The crowd erupted as the B次元官网网址楥aps defender fired a quick shot past Bono for the victory.

On the sidelines, Sartini stripped off his black B次元官网网址淗ome is VancouverB次元官网网址� T-shirt and whipped it around his head as he ran on to the field.

Stepping up for the penalty kick was a funny feeling, Blackmon said.

B次元官网网址淚 kind of thought it would end that way when I was fifth,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd it was on the plate for me to go at it. And luckily I tucked it in.B次元官网网址�

Former Toronto FC striker Tosaint Ricketts looked poised to give the Whitecaps the win in the 80th minute when he got a ball from White deep in the box. His shot hit BonoB次元官网网址檚 hand and skittered wide of the post.

Bono had four saves on the night and Cropper made five stops for Vancouver.

Toronto buried the equalizer in the 75th minute.

Jayden Nelson chipped a short pass to Bernardeschi at the top of the box and the Italian sent a cross in deep. MacNaughton rose from the pack and put a header in past Cropper to tie the score at 1-1.

Cropper kept the B次元官网网址楥aps ahead in the 60th minute, stretching out to turn away a shot from Toronto star Lorenzo Insigne.

Toronto dominated 71.3 per cent of the possession through the first half but it was Vancouver that had the better chances, outshooting the visitors 9-8. Both sides had four shots on target.

The B次元官网网址楥aps appeared to be in trouble in the 37th minute when Toronto won a free kick from outside the penalty area. Isigne took the kick, sending a right-footed shot well over the Vancouver net.

Vancouver got on the board in the 19th minute following a corner.

Gauld sent a cross into White at the back post and the American striker directed a header toward the net, hitting BonoB次元官网网址檚 left hand on the way in. The goal gave the B次元官网网址楥aps a 1-0 lead.

Lucas Cavallini nearly got the scoring started just 35 seconds into the game. Gauld delivered a ball into the box and the Canadian striker sent a low shot to the bottom left corner of the net, only to see Bono dive to make the stop.

TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 victory shows what the Whitecaps are all about, said midfielder Ryan Raposo.

B次元官网网址淭he guys just have so much grit. TheyB次元官网网址檙e all fighters,B次元官网网址� said Raposo, who was named the best young Canadian of the game. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not a team full of individuals B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e a team, we work together toward a common goal, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what happens B次元官网网址� you win trophies.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps will be back in action on Saturday when they visit Nashville SC. Toronto FC will take on the Revolution in New England the same night.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

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