Vancouver FC's run in the 2025 TELUS Canadian Championship came to an end with a loss to provincial rivals Vancouver Whitecaps in the final on Wednesday night at BC Place.
The Whitecaps won their fourth straight TELUS Canadian Championship title with a 4-2 victory over their provincial rivals VFC Eagles.
Vancouver FC was the first Canadian Premier League (CPL) team to reach the Canadian Championship finals.
But the history books will remember the Whitecaps on the night, as they became just the second team in Canadian Championship history to win four-straight titles.
It was also a historic night for the Whitecaps' German superstar Thomas Muller, who scored his 300th career goal between club and country, and added his 35th title, becoming the most decorated player in German history.
"I know we were the clear favourites before this game, but we took it seriously from the beginning, and I think in the end it was a well-deserved win," Muller said after the match.
The Eagles' starting 11 featured seven former members of the Vancouver Whitecaps organization, including Nicolas Mezquida, who played 121 matches for the club between 2014 and 2018. The Uruguayan won the Voyageurs Cup with the Whitecaps back in 2015.
The Whitecaps, meanwhile, made their ambitions on the night clear by starting a nearly first-choice starting 11 — including Muller as the club's captain.
Just five minutes into the match, Muller whipped in a cross from the right flank into the path of Canadian international Ali Ahmed at the top of the box. Ahmed cut past his man and sent a perfectly placed low strike into the bottom right corner to open the scoring.
Ahmed continued to dominate down the left flank, as just four minutes later, he played a quick one-two into the box, getting the wrong side of VFC's Kunle Dada-Luke. The Eagles' full-back lunged to try to halt his progress, but caught Ahmed's foot and brought him down, with the Caps awarded a penalty. Muller stepped up and converted his 300th career goal between club and country to give the Whitecaps a 2-0 lead.
With a pair of goals inside 10 minutes, the Whitecaps continued to put Vancouver FC under siege.
In the 15th minute, Emmanuel Sabbi curled a shot from the right side of the box that Callum Irving got a fingertip to, sending it narrowly wide of target.
Sabbi, and then Sebastian Berhalter both struck the post in quick succession a minute later. Muller then struck the post himself in the 25th minute as the Whitecaps came within inches of a third.
In the 35th minute, however, the Eagles sprung a counter-attack.
After winning the ball in midfield, Vancouver FC's Thierno Bah continued his run forward, moving the ball to Mezquida.
The Uruguayan played a perfect pass that split the Whitecaps' central defenders, allowing Bah to run in between them and push the ball past Isaac Boehmer with a clever outside-of-the-boot finish.
It was a special moment for the 21-year-old, who spent four years in the Whitecaps organization and cut the score to 2-1.
"Really proud of the group, that they never gave up," said Vancouver FC head coach Martin Nash.
"Like it's so easy in a game like that, you go down 2-0 after 10 minutes, and just kind of go 'ah they're too good,' or what have you. But the guys never gave up."
That momentum lasted just over a minute.
The Whitecaps quickly returned to attack off of the restart, sending a dangerous ball into the six-yard box.
Irving did well to get a hand to it, but the ball fell right into the path of Ahmed, who reacted first and tapped home his second of the match, and the Whitecaps' third.
The visitors had one more half-chance just before half-time.
Again, Bah played a significant role as he picked up the ball to the right of the box and was brought down by Mathias Laborda. Vasco Fry delivered a dangerous free kick into the box that forced a solid punch for Boehmer. The Whitecaps held their 3-1 advantage into half-time.
Nash elected to make one change during the break, bringing off Dada-Luke and putting on Tyler Crawford. That allowed Paris Gee to shift over to the right to try to contain Ahmed.
The CPL side did a much better job of limiting the Whitecaps' chances through the early stages of the second half.
Knowing they had nothing to lose, there was clear commitment in every action from the visitors.
A perfectly timed last-ditch tackle from Aidan O'Connor to deny Sabbi a breakaway in the 62nd minute was an example of the kind of outstanding defensive commitment the Eagles put in on the night.
Sabbi again thought he was through in the 72nd minute, but Matteo Campagna did enough to put the Whitecaps' attacker off, giving Irving time to come out of the net and close the angle. It was the Whitecaps' first shot on target of the second half.
The BC Place crowd was brought to its feet in the 79th minute, when for the first time since March 8, star attacker Ryan Gauld stepped on the pitch.
Just a few minutes later, he formally announced his return, taking a pass from fellow substitute Jayden Nelson and beating Irving to make it 4-1 for the Whitecaps.
Vancouver FC, however, made it clear they were going to fight until the final whistle.
In the 85th minute, Bah returned the favour to Mezquida. Picking the ball up along the byline, he picked out Mezquida who perfectly directed the ball into the bottom corner.
The moment only underlined a special performance the 21-year-old Ottawa-born Bah, who had a goal and an assist on the night. He also created a further chance for Pathe Ndiaye with a stunning outside-of-the-boot pass, won nine of 15 duels and four fouls.
Under the bright lights, his star shone with another terrific performance for the player who is having a great season both in the league and cup.
Their incredible run in the tournament came to an end, however, falling to the Whitecaps dynasty that kept its crown for a fourth consecutive year.
After reaching the final of the 2025 Concacaf Champions League, the Whitecaps punched their return to the continental competition for 2026.
They now turn their attention to more silverware in 2025 with the MLS Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup still very much in their grasp.
Still stinging from Wednesday night's defeat at BC Place, the Vancouver FC will be returning to regular season league play on Saturday.
The Eagles head to Hamilton, Ont. for an afternoon game against Forge FC. Out of play-off contention at the Canadian Premier League level (ranked 8 out of 8 with only four wins all season), VFC only have three regular season games left to play. After taking on Forge, they visit Ontario again on Oct. 12 to do battle with Atletico Ottawa, then finish the season at home Saturday, Oct. 18 playing against Calgary's Cavalry FC.
