<b>KEY PLAYERS</b>
ATTACKING
If TFC plays a similar system like the first leg against Montreal, then Vancouver will need to be precise with their passing and <b>Davide Chiumiento</b> will especially need to find the small windows to set up the strikers. The Swiss playmaker has picked up an assist in the last five goals Vancouver has scored in all competitions, including three against Edmonton.
The visitors from Toronto will need the pace of <b>Ryan Johnson</b> up top if they decide to play behind the ball and try to get chances on the counter. While Johnson has not lived up to preseason expectations, the Jamaican international is capable of scoring in bunches for TFC.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]DEFENSE
Last season Plata burned the Caps, so they are hoping their new right back <b>Lee Young-Pyo</b> can handle the speedy winger. It will be a tough task, as Rennie needs him to contribute to the attack, so Lee will have to track back quickly when the ball is turned over.
With the unavailability of Frings for TFC in the first leg, it will be up to <b>Julian de Guzman</b> to provide coverage for the backline. He will also have to be the main distributor when they recover the ball and will need to find his teammates going forward.
<b>WHO’S ON FORM</b>
After struggling to score for an extended period, it seems as if <b>Eric Hassli</b> has found his touch, scoring three goals in his last four appearances, including two game winners. The big Frenchman has been vocal about his displeasure of how last season’s final went and could have the motivation to score a goal that will actually count.
The one player on TFC that deserves the least amount of blame for their struggles this season is goalkeeper <b>Milos Kocic</b>, who is the number one while Frei is out with an injury. Through the two game semi-final against the Montreal Impact, Kocic didn’t concede a goal and will have to continue that trend for Toronto to have a chance.
<b>2012 RECORD :</b>
Vancouver:
5W-3D-2L
4th in Western Conference
Last Match: 4-1 Loss vs New England Revolution
Toronto:
0W-0D-8L
9th in Eastern Conference
Last Match: 2-0 Win vs Montreal Impact (ACC)
<b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>
<b>INJURIES/ABSENCES</b>
Vancouver:
Out - GK Brian Sylvestre (knee)
Questionable - FW Atiba Harris (quad)
Toronto:
Out - FW Nicholas Lindsay (knee), GK Stefan Frei (leg), Miguel Aceval (quadriceps)
Questionable - DF Dicoy Williams (knee) FW Danny Koevermans (adductor), DF Torsten Frings (shoulder)
<b>GAME ANALYSIS</b>
After dispatching FC Edmonton in the semi-final, the Whitecaps now have TFC standing in their way from lifting their first Voyageur’s Cup. The Caps were less than half an hour from winning the title last season when the second leg was called due to a thunderstorm. The replay did not go well for Vancouver and they lost the match 2-1 and 3-2 on the two leg aggregate score.
Expect Martin Rennie to roll out a strong lineup starting with Cannon in goal. He will have DeMerit and Bonjour in front of him, with Lee and Rochat taking care of the wide areas. When playing together, this group of defenders has only allowed one goal in five matches, as opposed to the eleven goals allowed in seven games for other combos.
Playing close to the backline will be Davidson with Koffie playing more of a box to box role and Chiumiento playing in a forward position. Up top, Hassli will once again be the target man, with his support coming from Le Toux on the right and Camilo on the left.
The majority of soccer pundits expect TFC to ‘park the bus’ and try to keep the game scoreless, similar to their first leg against Montreal. In order to counter this, the Caps will have to be patient and keep the ball moving as they look for the holes in the defense. Rennie will need to emphasize the importance of not carelessly giving up the ball in the middle of the pitch, especially if Lee and Rochat decide to move up in the attack.
It is the counter that the Caps will have to guard against if TFC employs the eleven behind the ball strategy. This tactic also means it’s unlikely that Koevermans, while healthy enough to travel, most likely will not start due to his lack of pace. Le Toux and Camilo can’t be lackadaisical when it comes to defending, with Morgan and Hall being very dangerous in the wide positions for TFC.
Whether he was here last year or he arrived in the offseason, every player and coach knows how important these two matches are to the organization and its supporters. The Whitecaps need to win the Voyageurs Cup in order to further their international aspirations and in order to win it they will need a very strong start at home in the first leg.
<b>AFTN Predicted Score: Vancouver Whitecaps 2 Toronto 0</b>
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