Toronto FC advanced to the final of the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship on Tuesday night with a 1-0 win over Forge FC, taking the semifinal series on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate score.
Lorenzo Insigne scored the game’s only goal in the 50th minute, smashing a Federico Bernardeschi cross into the back of the Forge net on the volley.
TFC will meet Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place in the final on September 25.
“It's a good Forge team,” credited John Herdman post-match. “They're a team that have played together for a long time and represent the Canadian Premier League really well.”
“That's a tough match,” he continued. “Anyone that plays them, they know it's going to be a tough match. [Forge are] well organized and the players have a real team spirit and chemistry. Coming into this we knew we had to match their intensity and our quality would come through. We knew we would do our talking on the pitch as well, which was important tonight.”
The coach’s prematch message was simple.
“I actually didn't say very much,” Herdman recounted. “We focused tactically this week, did a little tactical piece in the OVO [Athletic] Centre, sometimes we do that with the big screens.”
“I said to them, ‘I don't need to motivate you tonight. There’s a cup final on the line. You’ve just got to decide whether you want this enough. We're ready. We’ve got the talent,’” he detailed. “It was good. [Forge] made us work for it. It was never going to be easy. We had quite a few chances, but it's where our team are at. We're fighting. We really are fighting together and there is a real pride in that.”
With the Hamilton side holding a one-goal lead from the first leg, but Toronto having scored an away goal, both sides knew the margins were thin and that a goal either way would tip the balance.
Had Forge scored, TFC would need two to draw back level, but one goal for Toronto would be enough to advance on the tiebreaker.
Players love it when the stakes are at their highest.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Henry Wingo, who made his first start at BMO Field. “I like playing in these games where there is a lot on the line.”
“There is in every game, but especially in these games where you're trying to win trophies and make it to the final,” he continued. “It was fun to play in a game of that magnitude and just work together with the guys out there to achieve our goal. It was a special night.”
Coming off a gritty defensive away performance in Houston on the weekend, a different type of perseverance was required to get the job done at home midweek. Toronto were on the front foot from the opening whistle. Forge were dangerous in moments and resolute defensively. It was a match that required patience and focus.
“That was exactly it,” agreed Herdman. “Mentally tonight was going to be the biggest challenge for the team. If it didn't come early, to be patient, keep doing the things that needed to be done.”
“[The players] stuck to it,” he continued. “Forge defended really well in moments and we missed some big chances. A big part of the conversation tonight was they had to put a mental shift in and keep believing with our quality something will come.”
That required moment of quality came in the 50th minute.
Jonathan Osorio got on the ball in the attacking third and waited for a lane to open to Richie Laryea on the edge of the arc. He touched on to Prince Owusu, who in turn played back to Derrick Etienne Jr.
The quick, tight movement drew the attention of a raft of Forge defenders, opening up the wide areas for Bernardeschi on the right and Insigne on the left. When Etienne put the ball into the path of one Italian he found the other attacking the back side and Insigne’s volley was all Toronto needed to win the day and the tie.
The final now awaits. A clash with the Whitecaps in Vancouver come the end of September. A chance at some silverware.
“It's massive for the team and for the club,” said Wingo. “Any time you have the chance to win a trophy, it's a huge honour and the group, especially in these last couple games, has shown the focus and the determination that it's going to take to win a trophy.”
“Everybody is really looking forward to it,” he smiled. “It's a huge opportunity for us.”
Toronto will not have long to celebrate. Attention now turns to the visit of D.C. United to BMO Field on Saturday, a crucial Eastern Conference encounter.
September begins with an international break, but then lies the sprint to the finish. Each game bigger than the last.
“Henry said it,” referenced Herdman. “[Players] love these games and every game is a big game for Toronto FC at the moment.”
“We're in that fight,” he closed. “We'll keep fighting, keep pushing, and hopefully some of those chances will turn to goals and we might get an easier night where we can breathe a little bit more. But, at the same time, it's building a bit of resilience for what's coming.”
