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The Canadian Soccer Association announced on Thursday that Amway Canada will return as the title sponsor of the Canadian Championship (formerly the Nutrilite Canadian Championship), while also announcing the tournament schedule featuring Vancouver Whitecaps FC against FC Edmonton in one semi-final, and Toronto FC versus Montreal Impact in the other.

The 2012 Amway Canadian Championship (ACC) will again feature a four-team format that will see teams take part in a two-legged home-and-away semi-final, with the winners advancing to a two-legged home-and-away final to determine which club will lift the Voyageurs Cup and earn the right to represent Canada in the 2012-213 CONCACAF Champions League.

Amway Canadian Championship Schedule

SEMI-FINALS

May 2:
Impact Montréal v Toronto FC – in Montréal
FC Edmonton v Vancouver Whitecaps FC – in Edmonton

May 9:
Toronto FC v Impact Montréal – in Toronto
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v FC Edmonton – in Vancouver

FINAL:

May 16:
Winner of Semi-Final 1 v Winner of Semi-Final 2 – Location TBD

May 23:
Winner of Semi-Final 2 v Winner of Semi-Final 1 – Location TBD

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2012...n-championship

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Path To 2012/13 CCL Starts Now

Toronto will look to repeat as Canadian champions
a fourth time for Champions League chance

NEW YORK - Three-time defending champion Toronto FC will face Major League Soccer expansion Montreal Impact, and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC will play FC Edmonton in the Amway Canadian Championship.

Both series will begin Wednesday, May 2, with Montreal and Edmonton hosting first legs with the second a week later in Toronto and Vancouver.

Toronto defeated Edmonton in last year's semifinals and then rallied to beat Vancouver in the second leg of the final - a match that had to be replayed after the initial attempt was abandoned due to lightning and torrential rain. Toronto went on to reach the semifinals of the 2011/12 Champions League before being eliminated by Club Santos Laguna of Mexico.

Montreal, which won the title in 2008 under a different structure, is playing as a first-division side for the first time, having elevated its status as MLS' 19th team.

The new year also has brought in a name change in the title sponsor the Canadian club championship, from the Nutrilite brand of health supplements to its parent company Amway.

http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/04...ccl-starts-may

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ACC Recap:
Impact, Toronto play to scoreless draw


Toronto FC came to Québec for the first leg of their Amway Canadian Championship semifinal and shutout the Montreal Impact, holding them to a cautious 0-0 draw contested in front of 13,405 spectators on Wednesday night at the Olympic Stadium.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...scoreless-draw

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ACC Recap:
Whitecaps leave Edmonton with 2-0 victory


The Major League Soccer side left Commonwealth Stadium with a 2-0 aggregate advantage over FC Edmonton after the first leg of their Canadian Championship semifinal on Wednesday through goals from Eric Hassli and Atiba Harris.

Hassli’s 18th-minute effort was his first goal in 18 matches, as he slid a low effort past goalkeeper David Monsalve. Omar Salgado made the play by beating fullback Paul Hamilton down the left side before cutting the ball back for the big Frenchman to fire home.

The Whitecaps doubled their lead in the 41st minute, and once again Salgado was the catalyst. Hassli sent the Texan into a good position in the box, and Salgado beat his marker before hitting a fine chip over Monsalve’s head. The ball bounced off the post, but Harris was there to control before tapping home for the 2-0 goal.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter...dm-v-van/recap

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ACC Preview:

TFC host Impact with place in final on line

Toronto FC host Montreal Impact on Wednesday evening at BMO Field (8 pm ET on Sportsnet Ontario & East) for a place in the Amway Canadian Championship finals. The Reds and Impact drew 0-0 in the first leg of the semifinal, setting up the all-important return fixture where Toronto must beat Montreal in regulation, extra time or penalties to advance. Montreal will advance with a scoring draw or win.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...ace-final-line

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ACC Preview:
Whitecaps FC look to advance to
Amway Canadian Championship final


Holding a two-goal advantage from last week’s first leg, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1W-0L-0D in ACC) host North American Soccer League (NASL) side FC Edmonton (0W-1L-0D in ACC) in the second leg of their 2012 Amway Canadian Championship (ACC) semifinal on Wednesday evening.

Martin Rennie’s side return to Bell Pitch at BC Place just four days after earning a memorable 2-1 victory over Western Conference rivals San Jose Earthquakes in an eventful Major League Soccer clash on Saturday afternoon. Currently on a four-match winning streak, the ‘Caps look to book their ticket into this year’s ACC final by getting past their Western Canadian rivals in Wednesday’s second leg, with the Blue and White hosting The Eddies for the first time in club history.

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2012...pionship-final

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ACC Recap:
10-man TFC top Impact 2-0, back to finals


TORONTO – It may not have been a league victory, but Toronto FC will take it.

After another week of turmoil, 10-man TFC pulled out a 2-0 win over the Montreal Impact on Wednesday at BMO Field for their first win in any competition in nearly two months.

And this one gets them back in the finals of the Amway Canadian Championship for the fifth year in a row.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...-0-back-finals

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ACC:
Late barrage books 'Caps place in final


VANCOUVER, B.C. – It got a bit hairy at times, but the Vancouver Whitecaps are through to the Amway Canadian Championship final mostly thanks to two goals from Sebastien Le Toux.

Vancouver’s 3-1 win over FC Edmonton at BC Place on Wednesday gave the club a 5-1 aggregate win over the two-legged tie.

Yashir Pinto put the scare into the ‘Caps on 54 minutes and put Edmonton within a goal of levelling the tie, before substitute Le Toux beat David Monsalve with a goal in the 75th minute and tallied a second in the 87th minute.

Darren Mattocks, making his return from burn injuries suffered in late March in a cooking accident, scored an insurance goal with the game’s final kick to round out the win.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...ps-place-final

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With three MLS teams North of the Border, another in the second-tier NASL and a second to come in Ottawa in the next couple years – not to mention the ever-growing and improving ranks of amateur clubs in Canada – why haven’t we figured out a better way to do this?

Canada has grown so much in soccer terms over the last decade. The game has never been healthier, the country is set to host the Women’s World Cup in three years and even FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the big ticket – the men’s World Cup – may not be far behind.

So why can’t Canada do what the rest of the world does, and have a good old-fashioned Canadian Open Cup tournament? Its time has come, says former national team captain Jason deVos.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...adian-open-cup

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Canadian Association announces dates
for 2013 Amway Canadian Championship

Tournament kicks off April 24, 2013

The Canadian Soccer Association has announced the 2013 schedule for the sixth edition of the Amway Canadian Championship. The six-match schedule will once again feature the nation’s top-four professional clubs, with the Montreal Impact, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Toronto FC and FC Edmonton, all playing for the honour to lift the Voyageurs Cup and represent Canada in the 2013-14 edition of CONCACAF Champions League.

Canada’s three MLS clubs will be ranked first, second and third based on the league’s 2012 regular-season standings. With one month to play, Montreal and Vancouver are caught in a tight race for the top seed. The final 2012 Canadian ranking will be confirmed after the final 2012 MLS regular-season matches on 28 October 2012


2013 AMWAY CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

SEMI-FINAL SERIES:
1st Leg on 24 April 2013 – #4 vs. #1
1st Leg on 24 April 2013 – #3 vs. #2
2nd Leg on 1 May 2013 – #2 vs. #3
2nd Leg on 1 May 2013 – #1 vs. #4

FINAL SERIES:
1st Leg on 15 May 2013
2nd Leg on 29 May 2013

http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/new...n-championship

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2013
SEMI-FINAL STAGE

24 April 2013:
FC Edmonton vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Edmonton, AB (Commonwealth Stadium)
Toronto FC vs. Impact Montréal – Toronto, ON (BMO Field)

1 May 2013:
Impact Montréal vs. Toronto FC – Montréal, QC (Stade Saputo)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. FC Edmonton – Vancouver, BC (BC Place)

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

15 May 2013:
1st Leg

29 May 2013:
2nd Leg

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Reds blank Impact in first leg of ACC
TFC Academy graduate Doneil Henry opened the scoring in the 49th min


http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2013/04...-first-leg-acc

Vancouver Whitecaps FC defeat FC Edmonton 3-2
in the ACC semifinal first leg Camilo scores twice and Heinemann nets the winner


http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2013...defeat-fced3-2

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L'Impact de Montréal a battu le Toronto FC au compte de 6-0
et accède à la grande finale du Championnat canadien.

http://tvasports.ca/videos/video-le-...c-perd-la-mapp


'Caps down Edmonton 5-2 on aggregate, will play MTL in final

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2013...-advance-final