MONTREAL — For all that’s gone wrong for CF Montreal this season, a trophy remains tantalizingly close. Montreal entertains the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday with a spot in the Canadian Championship final at stake after the clubs played to a 1-1 draw in the opening leg of their semifinal Sept. 2 at B.C. Place. “This is without a doubt the most important week of the season … and pressure is felt during moments like this,” said interim head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “This is effectively single-elimination.” As the last two MLS clubs in the competition, Montreal and Vancouver would be favoured in the final, where either Forge FC or FC Supra du Québec awaits. Only Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto FC have lifted the Voyageurs Cup since the Canadian Championship was introduced in 2002. The clubs have travelled very different paths this season. Vancouver (14-6-4) owns the second-best record in MLS, while Montreal (5-14-6) has the second-worst. With the playoffs all but out of reach, the Canadian Championship represents Montreal’s last shot at a trophy. “Everyone understands the situation that this match brings, and it’s on us to turn the page from the last games and get into Canadian Championship mode,” said captain Samuel Piette. “A win here gets us to a final and maybe even the Champions League.” Despite a recent dip in form, the Whitecaps remain one of MLS’s top teams and are chasing a fifth consecutive Canadian Championship title, which would extend their record streak. Montreal, meanwhile, is looking to lift the Voyageurs Cup for the first time since 2021 after losing the 2023 final. Montreal’s struggles have only deepened since the World Cup break. The club has won just one of 15 games against MLS opposition, sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and boasts one of the league’s least efficient offences. “(The Whitecaps are) not one of the best teams in MLS for nothing,” Eullaffroy said. “We won’t just give them the ball, but we will have to respect the fact that they will have more of it. “They send lots of numbers forward because of their quality, but they do have some weaknesses in behind, so it’s on us to exploit that as much as possible.” That game plan nearly worked to perfection in the first leg. Vancouver held roughly two-thirds of the possession and generated a host of scoring chances, but couldn’t break through thanks to disciplined defending and a standout performance from Montreal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza. Montreal may now have home-field advantage, but Stade Saputo hasn’t been much of a fortress since the spring. The club went unbeaten in its first five home games under Eullaffroy, but hasn’t won there since May 9. Vancouver has had no such trouble away from home, posting a 5-2-3 road record that ranks among the best in MLS. “Even if the most recent home results haven’t been perfect, not having to travel and having the crowd behind us will help us greatly,” said Piette, one of only two players remaining from Montreal’s 2021 Canadian championship team. “We have 90 minutes to get the job done.” The winner will face Forge FC or FC Supra du Québec, who play the decisive second leg of their semifinal Tuesday at Hamilton Stadium. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2026. Elias Grigoriadis, The Canadian Press
