Whitecaps eliminate Cavalry, advance to Canadian Championship semifinals

The Vancouver Whitecaps have punched their ticket to the Canadian Championship semifinal round with a 1-1 draw against the Calgary-based Cavalry on Monday.

The Major League Soccer Whitecaps, who have won the Voyageurs Cup four years in a row and five overall, won the two-leg quarterfinal series against the Canadian Premier League Cavalry 5-2 on aggregate.

Vancouver won last Wednesday’s opener 4-1 at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C.

The Whitecaps will face MLS side CF Montreal in September’s two-match semifinal series. Montreal eliminated CPL side Vancouver F-C 4-2 on aggregate.

Ali Musse gave the underdog Cavalry a 1-0 lead on Monday with a goal in the 75th minute at ATCO Field. Whitecaps’ defender Mihail Gherasimencov scored 11 minutes later to tie the game.

The Whitecaps outshot the hosts 5-4 and dominated time of possession (64 per cent to 36). The visitors had more corner kicks (7-6), blocked shots (6-5) and throw-ins (26-20).

Both teams had 13 fouls and the Cavalry received two of the game’s three yellow cards.

The Whitecaps are tied for top spot in MLS’s Western Conference with 10 wins, two losses and two draws for 32 points. The San Jose Earthquakes, who have played one more game, have 32 points based on 10 wins, three losses and two draws.

The Cavalry are second in the CPL standings with eight wins, one loss and two draws for 26 points, five points back of the front-running Hamilton Forge.