Telus Canadian Championship to go down to four teams this week after lengthy layoff
A lot has happened in the interim.
First up, it's Vancouver FC at Cavalry FC (the teams are tied 1-1) and Atletico Ottawa at York United (Ottawa leads 2-1) on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it's Forge FC at CF Montreal (Forge leads 1-0) and Valour FC at the defending champion Vancouver Whitecaps (tied 2-2).
The away goals rule in not in effect and the teams will go straight to a penalty shootout if the aggregate is tied after the second leg. A new draw will be held to decide the semifinal pairings.
The Cavalry-Vancouver FC match features two sides in vastly different form. After a slow start, Cavalry (6-3-3) has risen to fourth in the eight-team Canadian Premier League while Vancouver is last at 1-8-4.
Vancouver coach Afshin Ghotbi sees beyond the standings, however.
'I think if you look at the table and the league, we're probably the best last-place team in the history of the league,' he said. 'Because the performances have been quite good and we've been able to control many of the games we're playing and create a lot of chances, especially the last two games.
'Unfortunately the results have not come, due to our inefficiency in front of the goal and sometimes some individual defensive lapses.'
Visiting Vancouver outshot Forge 15-9 (5-3 in shots on target) in a 2-1 loss Saturday. And it had a 25-9 edge (10-3 in shots on target) in the 4-4 draw at Pacific FC that preceded it.
Prior to a 2-0 home loss to league-leading Atletico Ottawa last time out on June 28, Cavalry had enjoyed an eight game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) that followed a 3-1 loss to Ottawa on April 26. Cavalry outscored its opposition 18-4 during the unbeaten run.
In contrast, Vancouver has gone 0-6-2 since its lone league win of the season — a 3-1 decision at Valour FC on May 3.
Vancouver can take encouragement from the May 21 first leg and an earlier league meeting April 18 in Calgary. Both games ended 1-1 with Cavalry needing goals in the 84th minute and 95th minute from star striker Toby Warschewski to pull even.
'I know it always comes up about they've not beaten us but we never underestimate what they have,' said Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. 'I think they're a well-coached side … We know that they pose some threats. They're very very aggressive. They do skirt that line but they also have some good set plays.'
Stopping Warschewski will be a focal point for Vancouver. The big German has five goals in seven career games against Vancouver.
'He's scored important goals against us in late stages of the game and part of that is he's just relentless in his effort,' said Ghotbi. 'He's constantly coming into dangerous areas, with and without the ball, and then when he gets in those situations he's shooting with enormous precision and great shooting attitude.'
Vancouver is missing 17-year-old midfielder Emrick Fotsing, who was taken off the field in an ambulance on the weekend after being knocked out in an aerial challenge with Forge defender Dan Nimick.
'The good news is scans came back negative,' said Ghotbi. 'He's cleared to come back with us.'
Nevertheless, Vancouver is giving the teenager time to recover, sending him home to spend the week with his parents while awaiting clearance of concussion protocols.
Cavalry will be without injured midfielder Michael Baldisimo and French defender Bradley Kamdem.
Vancouver advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Pacific FC in a penalty shootout. Cavalry blanked League1 Alberta champion Edmonton Scottish 6-0.
Vancouver and Calgary meet again Sunday in league play in Langley, B.C.
Atletico Ottawa at York United
Holding a one-goal lead going into the second leg, Atletico Ottawa has high hopes for the cup competition,
'When the season started, we thought that with the roster we have this year we would have the opportunity to fight for everything,' said Mexican coach Diego Mejia. 'I know our history and I know that if we win (Tuesday) we will play the semifinal for the first time in this organization.
'It's a very very important match for us, the most important match of the year up until now. All the players know that and if we want to grow as a team, I think we need to start winning that kind of match.'
Ottawa (8-1-4) leads the CPL, four places and 13 points ahead of York (4-6-3).
Ottawa started the season on a seven-game unbeaten run (5-0-2) and is unbeaten in its last five league outing (3-0-2), including a scoreless draw June 22 at York Lions Stadium, since a 2-0 loss May 24 at Halifax.
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'It's pretty obvious that we've got to go for it,' said York coach Mauro Eustaquio, whose side is unbeaten in its last three outings (1-0-2). 'The team has to be on the front foot from Minute 1.'
The clubs have met twice in league play this season with Ottawa winning 3-2 at home and, more recently, drawing 0-0 at York.
York blanked Ligue1 Quebec's FC Laval 5-0 in first-round play while Ottawa downed League1 Ontario champion Scrosoppi FC 2-0.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2025.
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