Canadian Championship: Sierra Leone's Kei Kamara nets in Whitecaps draw

Vancouver Whitecaps played to a 2-2 draw against Toronto FC in the first leg of the Canadian Championship on Wednesday.

The Sierra Leone striker scored for Whitecaps FC but it is Toronto FC who take an away-goal advantage in next week’s return leg.

The two Canadian teams will face each other again in the battle of North final for Canada’s place in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League.

The game featured two goals on both side and a controversial red card against the Whitecaps.

A Doneil Henry’s own goal costs 10-man Vancouver the win.

Speaking after the contest, Whitecaps boss said, “I thought our performance was absolutely terrific especially in the second half where we showed unbelievable character, unbelievable discipline and I’m disappointed that we only scored one second-half goal when our counter-attacking was phenomenal,”

Coach Carl Robinson added, “The effort and the character shown by that group is unbelievable.”

Recap.

Vancouver earned a penalty in the first half when Tosaint Ricketts handled the ball on a corner kick, and Kei Kamara stepped up to convert the spot kick.

But Toronto found an immediate answer, as Jonathan Osorio found a pocket of space and turned in Marky Delgado’s cross to tie up the game just two minutes later.

The home team were frustrated after Felipe was given a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Delgado.

However, they regroup and come out stronger as Erik Hurtado came off the bench and scored a crucial goal late in 84th-minute.

But wasn’t the winner. A Doneil Henry headed own goal in the 96th minute gave Toronto the upper hand heading into the second leg next Wednesday.

The second game of the two-match, total-goal series will be played Wednesday 15 August at BMO Field in Toronto.

Stunned.

TFC levels the score at the death after a huge second-half effort from the 10-men 'Caps. #CanChamp #VWFC pic.twitter.com/pJKj97C1Nu

— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) August 9, 2018