On paper, it looked as if Ottawa could simply show up, go through the motions, and walk away with a win before heading home for the second leg. However, that’s why the games are played—Vancouver had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Ottawa has lost only one game in 2025, while Vancouver has not won a home match in 12 months, meaning there was virtually no pressure on the home side.
It took only 20 minutes for Vancouver to open the scoring, as Michel Cavalcante netted his first goal for the club with a beautiful 22-metre strike that found the right corner of the Ottawa goal.
Vancouver nearly made it 2–0 in the 44th minute when Bah laid off a clever touch to Nicolás Mezquida, who had a wide-open net but saw his first-time shot roll just past the post.
Early in the second half, Ottawa came out pressing, while Vancouver appeared content to sit back and defend their one-goal lead. In the 57th minute, Sam Salter equalized with a looping header that found the top right corner of the Eagles' goal, tallying his 16th goal in 2025 across all competitions.
The Vancouver FC of a few weeks ago might have folded, but the Martin Nash-led side immediately went on the offensive and regained the lead in the 63rd minute. Ottawa defender Noah Abatneh miskicked an attempted back pass to his goalkeeper, giving Hugo Mbongue a breakaway from 25 metres out. He confidently slid the ball into the right corner, and Vancouver’s storybook game was heading toward a happy ending.
In the 91st minute, Mezquida sealed the win for Vancouver, latching onto a lovely through ball from Bah and placing his shot perfectly into the corner.
In front of a lively home crowd, the Eagles delivered a commanding performance, taking the game to Ottawa while defending solidly and creating chances from the opening whistle. Three different players found the back of the net as Vancouver’s attack came alive. The return match in Ottawa will be a stern test, making their two-goal cushion especially important.
Ottawa conceded two sloppy goals in the second half, and even Vancouver’s opener was one the Ottawa goalkeeper might have stopped. Martin Nash's side will still need to be at their very best in September to secure a berth in the Canadian Championship final. Local soccer fans are already salivating at the prospect of a Vancouver FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps showdown.
Of course, the Vancouver Whitecaps still need to win the second leg of their semi-final in mid-September, following an entertaining 2-2 draw in the first match. The recent signing of Thomas Müller makes them an even stronger favourite, even against Forge, the top-ranked team in the Canadian Premier League.
