TFC rolls over Fury, punches ticket to Canadian Championship final
Toronto will face Montreal later this month for title
Goals conceded seconds apart just before the break undid what had been a tidy, staunch defensive performance Wednesday night from the Ottawa Fury up until then.
But an own goal from Eddie Edward and a classy finish from Tsubasa Endoh sunk the Fury in a match that ultimately turned into a 4- 0 laugher when TFC’s Marky Delgado and Sebastian Giovinco extended TFC’s lead late in the proceedings.
Toronto FC advanced 5-2 on aggregate and will meet the Montreal Impact in the Canadian Championship final later this month despite a poor — and “embarrassing” — first leg performance that saw it fall 2-1 in Ottawa last week.
The hosts road a wave of anxiety through much of a first half that saw local supporters grow anxious the longer the match went without a goal.
The Fury will rue a missed chance midway through the first half that would have seen it extend its aggregate lead and, potentially, unsettle TFC in its own building.
Sito Seoane was played in behind TFC’s retreating back line and looked likely to put Ottawa up 3-1 on aggregate before Toronto’s Clint Irwin darted off his line to make a timely stop.
Seoane had another clear- cut chance 10 minutes later when Andrae Campbell twisted up a defender along the left side of the penalty area before skipping in a cross.
Seoane’s close- range half- volley from the penalty spot likely would have beat Irwin had it not been for a heroic last ditch block by TFC’s Justin Morrow.
They were two missed chances Ottawa bench boss Paul Dalglish would regret given Toronto FC eventually would find a way through the Fury’s staunch defence.
The tide shifted near the halfhour mark when Toronto FC was forced to make an early change due to an injury to Canadian striker Tosaint Ricketts.
Coach Greg Vanney tossed on Steven Beitashour, which pushed TFC’s Tsubasa Endoh further up front as the hosts shifted to a 4-3-3, with the Japanese midfielder playing high on the right.
Toronto’s second- year player produced the next three chances in front of goal, including a shot from the half- circle that nearly beat Ottawa’s Callum Irving at the far post.
Minutes later, Endoh walked into the penalty area after receiving a splitting ball from Jordan Hamilton along right side of the box. His ensuing cross teased the goal-line before Edward put the ball in his own net.
Endoh doubled TFC’s advantage — putting it up 3-2 on aggregate — a minute later when Victor Vazquez picked out his near- post run before a glancing header left Irving no chance.
In need of a goal that might have forced extra time, the Fury failed to conjure up any good looks at goal in a second half that saw the hosts end up extending their lead further following the introduction of Sebastian Giovinco.
Toronto’s Italian attacker played in Morrow along the left side of the box 10 minutes from full- time before his cross was tapped in by Marky Delgado.
Giovinco added a fourth from the top of the box with minutes remaining.
Ottawa’s second- leg loss Wednesday night marked the second time in as many years the tier two club has taken a goal advantage into a return leg against an MLS side.