Whitecaps, CF Montreal play to draw in first leg of Canadian Championship semi

VANCIUVER — An unlikely goal from Dani Pereira helped CF Montreal battle the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw in the opening leg of a Canadian Championship semifinal series on Wednesday.

Pereira forced a turnover and sent a long shot into the back of the Vancouver net to give Montreal a lead in the 16th minute.

The 'Caps pushed to level the score but struggled to get a shot past keeper Sebastian Breza, who made five stops across the match.

Vancouver captain Ryan Gauld got the home side on the board in the 72nd minute, cashing in on an assist from speedy midfielder Bruno Caicedo.

The 'Caps are the tournament's defending champions and have hoisted the Voyageurs Cup four years in a row. No team has claimed five straight Canadian Championship titles.

The two Major League Soccer clubs are set to face off in the second leg of the two-game aggregate series in Montreal on Sept. 16.

The other Canadian Championship semifinal began Tuesday with Forge FC and FC Supra du Quebec battling to a 1-1 draw in Laval, Que. The two Canadian Premier League sides will meet again in Hamilton on Sept. 15.

Montreal opened the scoring in the 16th minute Wednesday when Pereira picked a ball off of Oliver Larraz in the centre circle and chipped a quick shot up. The ball sailed over Vancouver goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer as he tried to sprint back into position, giving the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

Gauld came close to equalizing in the 28th minute off a free kick just above the penalty area.

The Scottish midfielder sent a cannon of a shot soaring toward the net, only to see Breza tip it away.

Fabian Herbers briefly appeared to give Montreal a 2-0 lead in the 36th minute when he put a sliding shot into the Vancouver goal, but it was quickly waived for being offside. The call was upheld after video review.

Three minutes later, Breza came up big once again, diving across the goal line to turn away an Edier Ocampo shot at the post.

Vancouver controlled 66 per cent of possession across the first half and outshot Montreal 8-3 with a 2-1 edge in on-target shots, but trailed 1-0 heading into the break.

Another free kick gave the 'Caps a prime opportunity in the 68th minute.