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 Wednesday91裸聊视频檚 match will also pit him against his hometown team, Toronto FC.

91裸聊视频淭here is a little bit extra, for sure,91裸聊视频� said the 23-year-old, who grew up in Toronto and once trialled with the TFC academy.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 the club that I grew up a huge, huge fan of. Now, it91裸聊视频檚 crazy to say that they91裸聊视频檙e my rivals. At the end of the day, it91裸聊视频檚 another game. But playing against your boyhood club is extra special, for sure.91裸聊视频�

The 91裸聊视频楥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 isn91裸聊视频檛 focused on spoiling Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 three-peat, though.

The team would be equally enthusiastic against any opponent as long as there91裸聊视频檚 a trophy on the line, said head coach John Herdman.

91裸聊视频淚 think the rivalry piece, it doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter who91裸聊视频檚 in front of us. It91裸聊视频檚 just a cup final,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淔or us, it91裸聊视频檚 just eyes on lifting some silverware for this club.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 beautiful to have a rivalry. It91裸聊视频檚 beautiful to have someone that on the sports side you don91裸聊视频檛 like,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 think that91裸聊视频檚 the beauty of soccer, this kind of rivalry. And I think the Canadian Championship is kind of an expression of that.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频楥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.

91裸聊视频淚 think that tomorrow they will come, I would say, even giving 120 per cent, not 100 per cent,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪o that91裸聊视频檚 the reason why I think it91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�

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 Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 five-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

The 91裸聊视频楥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 Toronto91裸聊视频檚 losses was a 4-0 drubbing by the Whitecaps in April.

91裸聊视频淚 think coming into Vancouver last time, it was pretty humbling,91裸聊视频� Herdman said. 91裸聊视频淪o I think first things first, coming into a final, those little details need to be right. We91裸聊视频檝e been together for a long period of time, I think the team know each other better now and they91裸聊视频檝e developed a hunger because they91裸聊视频檝e put themselves in this moment.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淎 lot of time has passed, a lot of games have been played,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd both teams, I think are at different points now, as far as it comes to rhythm and their form and what they91裸聊视频檙e fighting for in the league and things like that. It91裸聊视频檚 going to be a different game.91裸聊视频�