Ali Ahmed always finds an extra gear in these kind of games.

Not only is the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder preparing for the Canadian Championship final, but WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 match will also pit him against his hometown team, Toronto FC.

B次元官网网址淭here is a little bit extra, for sure,B次元官网网址� said the 23-year-old, who grew up in Toronto and once trialled with the TFC academy.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the club that I grew up a huge, huge fan of. Now, itB次元官网网址檚 crazy to say that theyB次元官网网址檙e my rivals. At the end of the day, itB次元官网网址檚 another game. But playing against your boyhood club is extra special, for sure.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址楥aps are looking to hoist the Voyagers Cup for the third year in a row, a feat that only one other team has accomplished.

TFC won four times from 2009 through 2012, and three times between 2016 and 2018.

Toronto isnB次元官网网址檛 focused on spoiling VancouverB次元官网网址檚 three-peat, though.

The team would be equally enthusiastic against any opponent as long as thereB次元官网网址檚 a trophy on the line, said head coach John Herdman.

B次元官网网址淚 think the rivalry piece, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter whoB次元官网网址檚 in front of us. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a cup final,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淔or us, itB次元官网网址檚 just eyes on lifting some silverware for this club.B次元官网网址�

For Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini, the hate that breeds between clubs is part of what makes soccer special, particularly in Canada.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 beautiful to have a rivalry. ItB次元官网网址檚 beautiful to have someone that on the sports side you donB次元官网网址檛 like,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 the beauty of soccer, this kind of rivalry. And I think the Canadian Championship is kind of an expression of that.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver earned its way into the final with a 2-0 aggregate win over Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC in a two-legged semifinal. Toronto edged Forge FC, also of the CPL, 2-2 on away goals.

TFC comes into the final in a similar place the B次元官网网址楥aps were in back in the 2022 tournament, Sartini said. Both had new coaches and were pushing for playoff spots in Major League Soccer.

The mind frame could make Toronto more dangerous than ever, the coach said.

B次元官网网址淚 think that tomorrow they will come, I would say, even giving 120 per cent, not 100 per cent,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o thatB次元官网网址檚 the reason why I think itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a very open game and I think we need to be on top of our behaviour, on top of our level if we want to win.B次元官网网址�

Both sides are coming off league losses, with Toronto dropping a 2-0 decision to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. The L.A. Galaxy doubled up the Whitecaps 4-2 in a result that snapped VancouverB次元官网网址檚 five-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

The B次元官网网址楥aps are 13-9-7 in Major League Soccer play and currently sit seventh in the Western Conference, while TFC occupies eighth in the East with an 11-17-3 record.

One of TorontoB次元官网网址檚 losses was a 4-0 drubbing by the Whitecaps in April.

B次元官网网址淚 think coming into Vancouver last time, it was pretty humbling,B次元官网网址� Herdman said. B次元官网网址淪o I think first things first, coming into a final, those little details need to be right. WeB次元官网网址檝e been together for a long period of time, I think the team know each other better now and theyB次元官网网址檝e developed a hunger because theyB次元官网网址檝e put themselves in this moment.B次元官网网址�

TFC was a group that was still trying to find its identity as a team in that April matchup, said captain Jonathan Osorio.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of time has passed, a lot of games have been played,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd both teams, I think are at different points now, as far as it comes to rhythm and their form and what theyB次元官网网址檙e fighting for in the league and things like that. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be a different game.B次元官网网址�