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Canadian soccer fans hope for a 'good journey' to World Cup after qualifying win in Hamilton – CBC.ca

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Kaitlin Coward was just trying to make it back to her seat when she started running and screaming with joy. 

Minutes into the World Cup qualifying match in Hamilton, Team Canada scored its first goal against the U.S.

“We’re already beating the states. That’s a big deal,” she said.

The Whitby, Ont., resident was among 12,000 fans at Tim Hortons Field on a cold and windy Sunday to watch the match between the two national men’s teams. 

Normally there would have been twice as many fans, but public health measures aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 capped the arena at half-capacity.

Dr. Dominik Mertz, an infectious disease specialist with McMaster University in Hamilton, told CBC radio program Day 6  that outdoor events like the soccer game aren’t as risky as indoor matches.

“It’s a setting with a relatively good track record when you look internationally with soccer games or other outdoor games,” he said.

The potential risk didn’t stop U.S. supporters Nick and TJ Cleavelin from travelling to Hamilton. 

The two Texans were surrounded by a boisterous red-and-white sea of Canadian fans who drummed, screamed and chanted.

Cyle Larin, 17, celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half of a Canada vs. United States World Cup qualifying match, at Tim Hortons Field, in Hamilton, on Jan. 30, 2022. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

There were roughly 12,000 fans at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on Sunday to see Canada take on the U.S. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

A soccer fan draped in a Canadian flag watches Team Canada maintain a 1-0 lead against the U.S. in the first half of the match. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

“We got some booing, some thumbs-down, got a little heckling, but it was fun,” TJ said.

The U.S. was down 1-0 at the end of the first half. The team had a free kick in the final minutes of the second half that could have tied the game, but Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who grew up in Hamilton, made the save.

The crowd roared and didn’t quiet down again.

Some fans tore off their shirts and cheered for Canada despite it being as low as -10 C. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

U.S. fans watch as Canada beats their team 2-0 on Sunday, despite the Americans having more time with the ball and a few close opportunities to score. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

Canadian flags waved and soccer fans cheered during the exciting World Cup qualifier in Hamilton. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

With minutes left in the game, Canada scored to seal a 2-0 victory.

Some fans yanked off their shirts and started swinging them in the air, bare-chested despite the sub-zero temperatures.

Omar Diaz, who came from the state of Georgia, went farther than most, jumping into a pile of snow while shirtless after the game.

His team didn’t win, but he was happy to watch the match.

“Canada won and my respect to Canada,” he said.

Steven Vitória congratulates keeper Milan Borjan after making a save during Canada’s 2-0 win against the United States in a men’s World Cup qualifying match. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Player Steven Vitória greets family in the stands after Canada’s 2-0 win. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Gail and Clinton Mitchell, from Brampton, Ont., were hoping for at least a tie game, but got an even better result, with Canada winning 2-0. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

Dressed up snugly, Clinton Mitchell said the win was everything he had hoped for.

“It’s good to see all the fans here and everybody giving them support because, man, this could be a good journey for all of us,” said the Brampton, Ont., resident. 

The journey to qualify at the World Cup in Qatar later this year is not over — Canada has four more matches in the final World Cup qualifying round.

While not all fans are confident Canada will end up winning the Cup itself, most are ready for the ride.

“Just getting to the World Cup is going to be something else. Since 1986, they haven’t been there and so I’m really excited for them to be able to go there,” said Vancouver resident Zee Samnani.

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Whitecaps, Timbers to face off in play-in match in Portland

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VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps will begin their post-season campaign with a play-in game against the Timbers in Portland on Wednesday.

The ‘Caps (13-13-8) ended the regular season with a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday and finished eighth in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference standings.

The eighth and ninth spots from each conference meet in a play-in game this week, with the winner going on to face the No. 1 seed in the first round of the playoffs.

Each eighth-place team was set to host the play-in game, but Vancouver announced Friday that its home stadium, B.C. Place, is not available, so the club will cede home-field advantage to Portland (12-11-11), the ninth-place team.

The ‘Caps and Timbers split their three-game series during regular-season play, with each side taking a win, a loss and a draw.

The first round of the MLS playoffs is set to begin next weekend.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Real Salt Lake beats visiting Whitecaps 2-1 to set single-season club record for points

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SANDY, Utah (AP) — Diego Luna scored a tying goal in the 73rd minute and Real Salt Lake added another on an own goal for a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night to set a single-season club record for points.

Real Salt Lake (16-7-11) secured the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference and will face Minnesota in the first round of the Major League Soccer playoffs. RSL reached 59 points this season, topping the 2012 team with 57.

Vancouver (13-13-8) will play the Portland Timbers on Wednesday in a wild-card game for a chance to play top-seeded LAFC.

Luna settled a long cross from Braian Ojeda before taking four touches to slot home a shot inside the far post for his eighth goal of the season.

RSL went ahead in the 83rd when Vancouver goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer misplayed a lofted ball that rolled into the back of the net.

Vancouver midfielder Ryan Gauld opened the scoring in the 58th to become the first player in club history to produce multiple seasons with at least 10 goals and 10 assists.

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Juan Soto’s 3-run homer in 10th sends Yankees past Guardians 5-2 and into World Series for 41st time

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CLEVELAND (AP) — Juan Soto’s arrival last winter was supposed to be that move that pushed the New York Yankees back to the top.

They’re one step away.

Soto hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the Yankees advanced to their 41st World Series — and first in 15 years — by beating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday night.

Baseball’s biggest brand is going back to October’s main stage.

Soto, who was acquired in a seven-player trade from San Diego in December, pushed the Bronx Bombers into position with one big swing.

This was why he came, for this moment and for so many more.

“We’re right where we belong,” said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who pulled off the deal for Soto.

The Yankees will try to win their 28th title against either the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 6 of the NL Championship Series is on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

In the third consecutive tight game in three nights at Progressive Field, Austin Wells walked with one out in the 10th and Alex Verdugo followed with a grounder to Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez, whose soft toss to the bag was dropped by rookie shortstop Brayan Rocchio for an error.

Hunter Gaddis struck out Gleyber Torres and had Soto in a 1-2 count before New York’s stylish outfielder sent a shot over the wall in center. Soto danced down the first-base line and paused to celebrate with his teammates before circling the bases.

“I was just saying to myself, `You’re all over that guy. You’re all over that guy. He ain’t got anything,’” said Soto, who moved alongside his manager, Aaron Boone, as the only New York players to homer in an extra-inning, series-clinching win.

Luke Weaver got the final three outs with Lane Thomas flying out for the last one, which was caught by Soto.

“We get to play for a world championship,” Boone said. “That’s pretty sweet.”

The 25-year-old Soto is eligible for free agency this winter, and Yankees fans chanted “Re-sign Soto!” during the postgame festivities. He’s expected to get a contract upwards of $600 million, and his heroics in Game 5 may have raised his price.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and was named ALCS MVP as the Yankees took care of the Guardians in five games. It wasn’t easy.

New York won the first two at Yankee Stadium without much fanfare or any major drama. However, it was a different story in Cleveland as all three games at Progressive Field were nail-biters.

The Guardians rallied to win Game 3 on two, two-run homers in their last two at-bats, and the Yankees held on to win Game 4 after blowing a four-run lead.

“This was a rollercoaster and we were able to just keep punching back,” Stanton said. “We know there’s much more work to do and it’s only uphill from here and we got to get it done.”

Cleveland just didn’t have enough and a surprising season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt ended just short of a World Series. The franchise remains without a title since 1948, baseball’s current longest drought.

“There’s only one team that gets to win the last game of the year, and unfortunately it’s not going to be us,” Vogt said. “But we accomplished a lot as a group. We got better. We worked extremely hard. I couldn’t be more proud of this group. We just didn’t get quite as far as we wanted to.”

The Yankees are back in the World Series, back where their fans expect them to be every year.

The club’s 82-80, fourth-place finish in the AL East last season led to some “soul searching as an organization” during the winter, according to Boone, who has been widely criticized but is one of just three managers to take New York to playoffs in six of his first seven seasons.

While the team’s core stayed mostly intact, getting Soto in a blockbuster trade on Dec. 7 — New York sent five players to San Diego for the three-time All-Star — accelerated the team returning to title contender.

“That was a good day,” Boone said with a laugh before the game.

Stanton’s 446-foot rocket into the left-field bleachers tied it at 2 in the sixth and chased Tanner Bibee, who had struck out New York’s dangerous DH in his first two at-bats and held the Yankees scoreless for the first five innings.

It was Stanton’s fourth homer in this series — his third in three days — and his 16th in the postseason, moving him into fourth place on the club’s career list behind Bernie Williams (22), Derek Jeter (20) and Mickey Mantle (18).

Before the game, Boone was asked what makes Stanton so good.

“He can hit it harder than anyone, first of all,” Boone said. “So there’s the physical nature of what he does that’s different than just about everyone in the world.”

But Boone went on to compliment Stanton’s discipline at the plate, “his approach, his process, how he studies guys.”

“There’s something that he does when he gets familiarity with people on top of being very physically gifted,” Boone said.

The Guardians took a 2-0 lead in the fifth off Carlos Rodón on Steven Kwan’s RBI single with two outs. But Cleveland missed a big chance for more, leaving the bases loaded when Lane Thomas grounded out on the first pitch to him from Mark Leiter Jr.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: LHP Nestor Cortes (elbow strain) had another successful live batting practice session. The reliever remains on track to join the Yankees on their World Series roster. Boone said Cortes would throw again early next week. Cortes went 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 30 starts.

___

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