The Vancouver Whitecaps tried to give some new faces a chance, but they were outmatched by the NASL's Ottawa Fury, who will take a 2-0 lead into next week's second leg of this Amway Canadian Championship semifinal.
The Fury took an early lead when Northern Irish midfielder and former MLS player Jonny Steele shot a rocket from outside the corner of the penalty area which Whitecaps goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi had no chance of stopping.
Ottawa doubled their lead just before halftime, when another former MLS player – Paulo Junior – smashed home the rebound of a Carl Haworth shot that Tornaghi couldn't corral.
Box Score
- 3' – OTT – Jonny Steele (Carl Haworth)
- 41' – OTT – Paulo Junior
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Three Things
- GAWRSH THEY LOOK FAMILIAR: Not only did both goalscorers tonight for Ottawa spend time in MLS, but also pulled on Whitecaps jerseys in the past. Paulo Jr. was a Re-Entry draft signing for the 'Caps in 2013, but never played in an official game. Steele played for Vancouver in 2010 (when they were still in the USL), before signing his first MLS contract.
- MAKE WAY FOR THE KIDS: Alphonso Davies made his senior team debut tonight, the 15-year-old holds the distinction of being the youngest USL signing in league history, as well as the youngest player to score in USL. Cole Seiler, Vancouver's 2016 MLS SuperDraft first-round selection, also debuted .
- IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: The Whitecaps fielded a lineup that didn't have much experience playing together, and the place where it showed the most was on the attack. As much as the 'Caps did to control the pace, they were a poor 50-percent accurate inside the final third.
They Said It
Next Up
- VAN: Amway Canadian Championship: Wednesday, June 8 vs. Ottawa Fury (10pm ET, MLS LIVE, TSN1)
