TORONTO – History will be made in the 2016 MLS Cup Final.
Not only have three of the four potential MLS Cup winners never hoisted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy before – Colorado being the lone exception – but for the first time there will be a Canadian representative in the final.
Toronto FC, in their 10th season, were the first club north of the border to enter the fray; Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps would join over the ensuing decade – they wrapped up their 5th and 6th seasons in MLS, respectively.
The Whitecaps, who missed the playoffs this year, were the first Canadian side to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs, back in 2012, appearing again in 2014 and 2015. The Impact would make their debut in 2013, following that up with consecutive appearances in 2015 and 2016.
TFC's first appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs would not come until last season, and even then, it was but a brief dalliance. This year, one of Toronto or Montreal will see the Maple Leaf fly high and hear "O Canada" sung aloud on December 10, potentially in Canada (the highest remaining seed among the finalists will host MLS Cup).
The three have regularly traded barbs over the years in the Amway Canadian Championships, contesting the Voyageurs Cup, but playoff encounters add even more drama.
Last season provided a taste, albeit bitter for some, when the Impact defeated TFC 3-0 in the Knockout Round, but with so much on the line in the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, expectations are raised.
“This is huge for our country and the support [here],” said TFC midfielder Jonathan Osorio after training on Wednesday. “More people are hearing about this. Even [general] sports fans are starting to focus more on MLS, Toronto FC, and Montreal Impact.”
Said Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney: “This is really exciting for Canadian sports, Toronto, and Montreal. Because of the rivalry, the history, it brings more spotlight. Both teams are playing well [and] there will be a Canadian team in the championship. There will be a lot more eyes on the sport and a lot more new fans. This is a possibility to get 100,000 fans in the stadiums between the two games, which would be huge.”
With ticket sales running apace – Montreal has already sold more than 40,000 tickets, including 1,400 to traveling TFC supporters for the first leg and Toronto announced a sellout of the second on Friday afternoon – both matches will be played in front of packed houses.
Asked on Friday if he'd ever imagined playing a game in Canada in front of such numbers, TFC forward Tosaint Ricketts laughed, “In my dreams, of course. It's amazing, the support has been great from day one.”
“There's a real opportunity here,” added Vanney. “It will be exciting: two good teams, who have good players, who [took] slightly different paths. [Montreal] has played a counterattacking style in the last couple games; we, against New York, played a high-pressing style. From a tactical perspective it will be interesting as well. It makes for a great match-up.”
The impact, pardon the pun, off the field, may matter as much as that on it.
“To have a lot of Canadian players involved in these matches, is big for Canada as well,” noted Ricketts. “It's a step forward. It gives the kids growing up something to look forward to... that extra momentum, confidence, that it is possible to make it there.”
Said Osorio: “It's only going to help build this sport in this country, get the hype up. In the future, kids will dream of this.”
