It’s an all-Canadian Premier League Qualifying Round 2 of the Canadian Championship.
HFX Wanderers FC, Cavalry FC, and York9 FC have joined fellow CanPL sides Forge FC, Valour FC, and FC Edmonton in this second stage of the 13-team expanded Voyageurs Cup contest.
The matches started on Tuesday, when Cavalry and Forge FC drew level at Tim Hortons Field.
Canadian Championship — Round 2
HFX Wanderers FC vs. Valour FC
Leg 1: June 5 — Wanderers Grounds
Leg 2: June 12 — IG Field
Past meetings: Valour 1, HFX 0 (May 11)
Winner plays: Ottawa Fury (USL)
HFX Wanderers’ two-legged victory over League1 Ontario’s Vaughan Azzurri pits the east coasters against Valour FC in QR2. Stephen Hart wasn’t exactly happy with his Wanderers side following the deciding tilt as his team failed to score at home against the lower-tier outfit.
These two teams have already met in their short lifespans in the CPL, with Valour taking the spoils in a 1-0 inaugural home win on May 11. Calum Ferguson had the match’s lone marker at IG Field.
The winner of the tie will take on the Ottawa Fury of USL, an easier proposition than the MLS sides awaiting the other two QR2 contenders.
Key talking point: HFX’s defenders are set for a big challenge dealing with the likes of Michael Petrasso and Marco Bustos. The pair were superb against FC Edmonton on the weekend in their first match together, leading a sprawling, wide-in-attack Valour side. The Wanderers should be prepared to sit back and counter against Rob Gale’s outfit, who will be looking to keep possession often.
Canadian Championship — Round 2
York9 FC vs. FC Edmonton
Leg 1: June 5 — York Lions Stadium
Leg 2: June 12 — Clarke Stadium
No past meetings
Winner plays: Montreal Impact (MLS)
York9 FC moved on in the Canadian Championship following a 1-0 win against PLSQ side A.S. Blainville in Qualifying Round 1.
Ryan Telfer scored the only goal of the tie in the 70th minute of that second leg. Neither side looked particularly effective in attack, as Blainville proved toothless over the two legs. That win was Y9’s first in club history.
The Eddies come to York Region on a three-game losing skid in the league, following a 2-0 defeat to Forge FC and a 1-0 loss at the hands of Valour in CPL action in the past week.
These two sides have yet to face each other in the league, with their only Spring season meeting set for just a few weeks from now on June 19 at York Lions Stadium.
Key talking point: FC Edmonton’s schedule is starting to catch up to them. June 5’s first-leg tie will be the third match in a week for the Eddies, who have traveled to Hamilton, back home to Edmonton, and now back to Ontario for this first leg. It doesn’t help they’ve lost those two previous matches, either.
