Herdman is looking forward to another Canadian championship match between David and Goliath

On By Vaseline

Toronto FC coach John Herdman is looking forward to another Canadian Championship cup match against a semi-pro team in CS Saint-Laurent.

Québec’s Ligue1 champions advanced Thursday after upsetting Canadian Premier League side Halifax Wanderers FC 5-3 in a penalty shootout after the match finished 2-2 after regular time.

Toronto advanced to the last eight by beating League 1 Ontario’s Simcoe Country Rovers 5-0 at BMO Field on April 24

“(It’s) exciting. That’s what cup matches are about,” Herdman said. “You just don’t want to be on the other side of that situation.

“They’re an exciting team (CS Saint-Laurent). I enjoyed watching them (Thursday night). There’s a lot of individual talent. Again, if we don’t get the mentality right in a game like that, you can go there go and be there.” into a lot of trouble.”

The second leg of the quarterfinals is May 21 at BMO Field.

The remaining quarterfinals are Atletico Ottawa vs. Pacific FC, Forge FC vs. CF Montreal and Cavalry FC vs. defending champion Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Whitecaps and 2023 runners-up CF Montreal said bye in the quarterfinals.

The winner of the Canadian Championship hoists the Voyageurs Cup and earns a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the confederation’s elite men’s club competition.

The matches in the preliminary round in the 14-team competition were one-off. The quarterfinals and semifinals are two-way, with the championship match being a standalone match.

Canadian Championships schedule (all times ET)

Cavalry FC (CPL) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)

May 7: ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows, Calgary, 9 p.m

May 21: at BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, 10:30 p.m

Atletico Ottawa (CPL) vs Pacific FC (CPL)

May 8: at TD Place Stadium, Ottawa, 7 p.m

May 29: at Starlight Stadium, Langford, BC, 10 p.m

Forge FC (CPL) vs CF Montreal (MLS)

May 7: At Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton, 11 a.m

May 22: at Stade Saputo, Montreal, 7:30 PM

CS Saint-Laurent (Ligue1 Quebec) vs Toronto FC (MLS)

May 8: at Complexe Sportif Claude Robillard, Montreal, 7 p.m

May 21, at BMO Field, Toronto, 7 p.m

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2024