Toronto FC Wins 2020 Canadian Championship

On Saturday, June 4th, 2022 Forge FC hosted Toronto FC in the long-delayed 2020 Canadian Championship Final. The 2020 Canadian Championship inevitably succumbed to COVID lockdowns and protocols resulting in the final being delayed almost 2 years. Due to CONCACAF Champions League obligations, Forge FC and Toronto FC had reached an agreement that would see Toronto taking Canada’s sole spot in the CL for 2021, while Forge FC competed in the CONCACAF League (2nd Tier of CONCACAF club competitions). As a trade off Forge was granted the privilege of hosting the 2020 Final once it was rescheduled.

The rescheduled match finally took place this past weekend and while the main question, “Who are the 2020 Canadian Champions?” was answered, it’s Toronto FC, there were other questions that were invariably addressed.

2020 Canadian Championship Highlights

2020 Canadian Championship Match Recap

For large stretches of the match Forge FC appeared to be the dominant team. While Toronto FC did have a weakened roster due to injuries it’s important to also note that Forge has yet to play with it’s preferred starting back four this season. In fact, Forge’s entire defense was make-shift fill-ins and youngsters. Moving a player like Achiniotti-Jansen, arguably the CPL’s best defensive midfielder, into a center back role is bound to have an impact on Forge’s midfield. And yet, it didn’t seem to be much of an issue.

Luca Petrasso fouled David Choinière mid-way through the first half resulting in a penalty which Tristan Borges attempted to convert. Borges unfortunately struck the crossbar and the score remained 0:0 through to half time.

An Alejandro Pozuelo moment of magic eventually put TFC ahead as he sweetly struck from outside the eighteen with a postage stamp placed goal. The skill displayed with his finish serves only to highlight what the extra budget an MLS team has at it’s disposal can buy.

Within 3 minutes Tristan Borges, with an almost equally magical strike, equalized and Forge FC continued to pressure TFC, always looking the more likely to score.

The 2020 Canadian Championship went straight to penalties once the 90 minutes of regulation time had elapsed. TFC missed first and it looked as though Forge was going to snatch the victory, but both Kyle Bekker and Brampton soccer’s Kwasi Poku missed their attempts leaving TFC to be crowned the 2020 Canadian Champions.