The 2019 Canadian Championship Semi-Final Round features Ottawa Fury FC v Toronto FC and Montréal Impact v Calvary FC of Calgary on Wednesday 7 August in Ottawa and Montréal. The expanded 13-team, 24 match competition completed three thrilling Qualifying Rounds to date showcasing Canadian Content. Semi-Final Round action can be viewed LIVE on OneSoccer.ca.
To date, 63% of Canadian Championship Starting XIs have featured Canadian players in accordance with competition regulations that require a minimum of 3 players in each starting XI to be eligible Canadian Internationals. The competition has included clubs from five leagues with three leagues represented in the Semi-Final round including the Canadian Premier League (CPL), United Soccer League (USL) and Major League Soccer (MLS).
Seven-time and back-to-back-to-back defending champions Toronto FC of MLS join the competition in this round and travel to TD Place in Ottawa, ON for a 7:30 kick off against Ottawa Fury FC of USL. Montréal Impact FC of MLS, three-time Canadian Championship winners, open at home to CPL’s Cavalry FC at 7:30 ET from Stade Saputo in Montreal, QC. The return leg goes 14 August in Toronto and Calgary.
Toronto FC make their debut in the 2019 Canadian Championship having been drawn directly into the Semi-Final Round as the reigning champions. They face Ottawa Fury FC for a third straight year in a Canadian Championship Semi-Final. Ottawa advanced out of Qualifying Round 3 after defeating CPL’s HFX Wanderers FC 5:4 on aggregate.
Cavalry FC are the first-ever CPL team to earn a Semi-Final berth. Cavalry FC were drawn against Pacific FC in Qualifying Round 1, whom they defeated 4:1 on aggregate. Calgary then advanced against Forge FC in Qualifying Round 2 on 3:2 aggregate. In Qualifying Round 3, Calvary FC drew 0-0 against the Vancouver Whitecaps at home and secured a 2:1 aggregate victory over the 2015 Canadian Championship winners with a 2:1 victory. Cavalry FC will face a Montréal Impact side looking for its first Canadian Championship victory since 2014 when they advanced to the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final. Montréal advanced after facing York9 FC defeating the CPL club 3:2 on aggregate.
Each Semi-Final Round winner will advance to the Canadian Championship Final Round scheduled for 18 and 25 September. The Canadian Championship winner will be presented with the Voyageurs Cup trophy and a spot in the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16.