Ali Ahmed always finds an extra gear in these kind of games.

Not only is the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder preparing for the Canadian Championship final, but Wednesday香蕉视频直播檚 match will also pit him against his hometown team, Toronto FC.

香蕉视频直播淭here is a little bit extra, for sure,香蕉视频直播� said the 23-year-old, who grew up in Toronto and once trialled with the TFC academy.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the club that I grew up a huge, huge fan of. Now, it香蕉视频直播檚 crazy to say that they香蕉视频直播檙e my rivals. At the end of the day, it香蕉视频直播檚 another game. But playing against your boyhood club is extra special, for sure.香蕉视频直播�

The 香蕉视频直播楥aps are looking to hoist the Voyagers Cup for the third year in a row, a feat that only one other team has accomplished.

TFC won four times from 2009 through 2012, and three times between 2016 and 2018.

Toronto isn香蕉视频直播檛 focused on spoiling Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 three-peat, though.

The team would be equally enthusiastic against any opponent as long as there香蕉视频直播檚 a trophy on the line, said head coach John Herdman.

香蕉视频直播淚 think the rivalry piece, it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter who香蕉视频直播檚 in front of us. It香蕉视频直播檚 just a cup final,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淔or us, it香蕉视频直播檚 just eyes on lifting some silverware for this club.香蕉视频直播�

For Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini, the hate that breeds between clubs is part of what makes soccer special, particularly in Canada.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 beautiful to have a rivalry. It香蕉视频直播檚 beautiful to have someone that on the sports side you don香蕉视频直播檛 like,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think that香蕉视频直播檚 the beauty of soccer, this kind of rivalry. And I think the Canadian Championship is kind of an expression of that.香蕉视频直播�

Vancouver earned its way into the final with a 2-0 aggregate win over Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC in a two-legged semifinal. Toronto edged Forge FC, also of the CPL, 2-2 on away goals.

TFC comes into the final in a similar place the 香蕉视频直播楥aps were in back in the 2022 tournament, Sartini said. Both had new coaches and were pushing for playoff spots in Major League Soccer.

The mind frame could make Toronto more dangerous than ever, the coach said.

香蕉视频直播淚 think that tomorrow they will come, I would say, even giving 120 per cent, not 100 per cent,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淪o that香蕉视频直播檚 the reason why I think it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a very open game and I think we need to be on top of our behaviour, on top of our level if we want to win.香蕉视频直播�

Both sides are coming off league losses, with Toronto dropping a 2-0 decision to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. The L.A. Galaxy doubled up the Whitecaps 4-2 in a result that snapped Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 five-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

The 香蕉视频直播楥aps are 13-9-7 in Major League Soccer play and currently sit seventh in the Western Conference, while TFC occupies eighth in the East with an 11-17-3 record.

One of Toronto香蕉视频直播檚 losses was a 4-0 drubbing by the Whitecaps in April.

香蕉视频直播淚 think coming into Vancouver last time, it was pretty humbling,香蕉视频直播� Herdman said. 香蕉视频直播淪o I think first things first, coming into a final, those little details need to be right. We香蕉视频直播檝e been together for a long period of time, I think the team know each other better now and they香蕉视频直播檝e developed a hunger because they香蕉视频直播檝e put themselves in this moment.香蕉视频直播�

TFC was a group that was still trying to find its identity as a team in that April matchup, said captain Jonathan Osorio.

香蕉视频直播淎 lot of time has passed, a lot of games have been played,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd both teams, I think are at different points now, as far as it comes to rhythm and their form and what they香蕉视频直播檙e fighting for in the league and things like that. It香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a different game.香蕉视频直播�