|
CONCACAF Champions League semifinalist Toronto FC ended a six-game losing streak on Wednesday, holding the Impact to a 0-0 draw in Montreal in the first leg of their Amway Canadian Championship semifinal series.
In the other semifinal, the Vancouver Whitecaps got first-half goals from Eric Hassli and Atiba Harris to win 2-0 at second-division side FC Edmonton.
Toronto is the three-time defending champion of the renamed Canadian club championship, the winner of which qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Reds have not won in 10 games since beating the LA Galaxy in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal series on March 14, losing eight matches in the skid.
The game produced little offense with the best efforts being a half volleyed ball by Montreal's Lamar Neagle that Toronto keeper Milos Kocic had to make a dramatic effort to save in the 25th minute, and Shavar Thomas' header midway through the first half that Toronto's Reggie Lamb saved off the line.
Toronto's first shot on goal didn't come until the 48th minute, an effort from distance easily grabbled by Montreal keeper Donovan Rickets.
In Edmonton, despite using several players making their first start of the year - including defender Greg Klazura in his pro debut, Vancouver went ahead in the 18th minute when Hassli first-timed a pass from Omar Salgado.
Salgado was instrumental in the second, chipping a ball over Edmonton goalkeeper David Monsalve and off the post, where Harris capitalized on the rebound.
Edmonton is last in the eight-team North American Soccer League, the second tier of the American soccer ladder. Vancouver, in its second season in MLS, is fourth in the nine-team Western Conference and seventh overall.
Toronto and Vancouver will host the second legs of their respective series next Wednesday.
