CF Montreal advances to Canadian Championship final, beats defending champion Vancouver

CF Montreal is heading to the Canadian Championship final. Prince Owusu scored twice in the first half Wednesday to carry Montreal past the defending champion Vancouver Whitecaps 2–1, with Montreal winning 3–2 on aggregate. It's Montreal's first final appearance since 2023, and it ends Vancouver's run of four consecutive titles.

Owusu opened the scoring at the half-hour mark from a penalty kick after Vancouver's Sam Adekugbe elbowed Montreal's Daniel Rios in the head in the penalty area. The on-field officials missed the contact, but Montreal interim head coach Philippe Eullaffroy challenged the play through the video review system and the call was overturned. Owusu has scored six penalties this season and kept his nerve after a recent miss against Philadelphia Union. "I scored so many that I know missing one would happen," Owusu said. "It didn't hurt my confidence or make me think too much. I did the same steps, the same move and I didn't change anything."

Just before halftime, Matty Longstaff sent a pass to Owusu, who beat goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer to score Montreal's second goal into the left-hand corner. Over the two legs of the tie, Montreal scored three goals from four shots on target despite holding just 36 per cent possession. "It feels good to have that efficiency, despite not having as many opportunities as we're used to," Eullaffroy said. He added with a touch of humour: "I told Owusu that I was upset with him because I wanted him to score three."

Vancouver pushed hard in the second half but couldn't find the breakthrough. Captain Ryan Gauld said the Whitecaps struggled to create clear-cut chances. "When we get in behind the defensive line, it's normally a good outcome for us," Gauld said. "I think the guys on the pitch need to take the responsibility and put the ball in the back of the net. I think we created a few half chances, but we struggled to get some clean openings."

The final is set for later this fall. Montreal will face Forge FC, who is seeking their first Voyageurs Cup after losing on penalties in their only previous final appearance.