Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Tangerines and Dundee favourites clash for Canadian cup final spot
CANADIAN football had a distinct Dundee vibe about it this week as two city favourites faced off for a place in a cup final.
A Canadian Championship semifinal between Vancouver Whitecaps and York United would not normally hit the headlines on this side of the Atlantic.
But making a big impact on the game was a certain Ryan Gauld, a real star during his two seasons at Dundee United.
These days he is the main man for the Whitecaps in Major League Soccer, where he has scored eight times in 34 matches.
And he could now be set to win his first piece of silverware in North America.
That’s after helping Vancouver to a 2-1 victory over York United in the early hours of yesterday morning – a York United side who have Dundee legend Barry Smith as their assistant manager.
Gauld and the Whitecaps will now face Toronto FC for their second Canadian Championship with a place in the Concacaf Champions League at stake.
York were very much underdogs, a Canadian Premier League side taking on an established MLS side.
The Whitecaps are placed just outside the play-off spots in the MLS Western Conference, goal difference keeping rivals Seattle Sounders in front.
Aside from a good cup run, the Toronto team have struggled. They’ve picked up 11 points from their 11 games in the Canadian Premier League, winning just twice.
Despite having a Brazilian winger called William Wallace, any freedom in their scoring has been wanting.
Goals have been a major issue – in league action they haven’t found the net in six straight games.