8. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-1 Toronto FC, June 29, 2016
You’ve heard the phrase “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,” but what about “the thrill of victory in the agony of defeat?” Something close to that is what Toronto FC and their fans experienced when this Canadian Championship Final was over, and believe me, we had to wait until it was over over.
Toronto FC won the first leg at BMO Field 1-0 through a Sebastian Giovinco goal just before the half. Giovinco’s goal was cancelled out in the 47th minute of leg two when Nicolas Mezquida headed a ball by Alex Bono for the Caps. Then, Tim Parker gave Vancouver the lead on aggregate with a strike in the 68th minute. Toronto FC had 22 minutes plus stoppage time to find a goal. And a goal they would find, from the unlikeliest of sources.
With four out of four minutes of stoppage time elapsed, the referee allowed one more ball into the Vancouver end. Tsubasa Endoh chipped a ball from just past the halfway line on goal. David Ousted had a beat on it. Unfortunately for the Caps, Kendall Waston did too. They came together clumsily and Ousted punched it directly to Will Johnson, who calmly, but intricately, found the back of the net. The referee could have blown the final whistle. Waston could have headed it down and away. Ousted could have claimed it and sat on it for the final few seconds. Will Johnson could have skied it over the bar. Instead, the stars aligned and TFC snatched their fifth Canadian Championship from Vancouver’s grasp.