The win also secured the Whitecaps fourth-straight Canadian Championship and fifth overall in the tournament.
Canada international Ali Ahmed set the tone early at B.C. Place, scoring in the fifth minute. Minutes later, Thomas Muller stepped up from the penalty spot and, as he’s done countless times over his 18-year career, calmly converted in the 10th.
Despite a clear gap in resources and pedigree, Vancouver FC fought back, with 21-year-old Elage Bah slicing through the defense to halve the deficit in the 35th. But their momentum barely lasted a minute, as Ahmed struck again to restore the two-goal cushion.
After the break, the Whitecaps welcomed back one of their franchise stars, Ryan Gauld. Out since March with a knee capsule sprain, the Scottish midfielder returned in the 78th minute - and needed just five minutes to make an impact, finishing a counterattack to make it 4-1.
Former Whitecap Nicolas Mezquida grabbed one back for Vancouver FC in the 85th, but it was too little, too late, as the hosts closed out another Canadian Championship title.
While Vancouver FC came up short, they can take pride in a storybook run to the final after falling in the opening round of their first two appearances. On the other side, first-year manager Jesper Sørensen not only celebrated his first trophy with the Whitecaps but also booked the club’s place in next season’s CONCACAF Champions League.
In a stunning performance, Thomas Müller led his team to victory in the Canadian Championship. Fans ready to turn insights into bets can capitalize on this momentum by using a 22bet promo code. This code enhances your betting strategy, providing promotions that align with your predictions and the high level of play seen in events like these.