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害羞草研究所檚 match will also pit him against his hometown team, Toronto FC.

害羞草研究所淭here is a little bit extra, for sure,害羞草研究所� said the 23-year-old, who grew up in Toronto and once trialled with the TFC academy.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the club that I grew up a huge, huge fan of. Now, it害羞草研究所檚 crazy to say that they害羞草研究所檙e my rivals. At the end of the day, it害羞草研究所檚 another game. But playing against your boyhood club is extra special, for sure.害羞草研究所�

The 害羞草研究所楥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害羞草研究所檛 focused on spoiling Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 three-peat, though.

The team would be equally enthusiastic against any opponent as long as there害羞草研究所檚 a trophy on the line, said head coach John Herdman.

害羞草研究所淚 think the rivalry piece, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter who害羞草研究所檚 in front of us. It害羞草研究所檚 just a cup final,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淔or us, it害羞草研究所檚 just eyes on lifting some silverware for this club.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 beautiful to have a rivalry. It害羞草研究所檚 beautiful to have someone that on the sports side you don害羞草研究所檛 like,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 think that害羞草研究所檚 the beauty of soccer, this kind of rivalry. And I think the Canadian Championship is kind of an expression of that.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所楥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.

害羞草研究所淚 think that tomorrow they will come, I would say, even giving 120 per cent, not 100 per cent,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪o that害羞草研究所檚 the reason why I think it害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 five-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

The 害羞草研究所楥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害羞草研究所檚 losses was a 4-0 drubbing by the Whitecaps in April.

害羞草研究所淚 think coming into Vancouver last time, it was pretty humbling,害羞草研究所� Herdman said. 害羞草研究所淪o I think first things first, coming into a final, those little details need to be right. We害羞草研究所檝e been together for a long period of time, I think the team know each other better now and they害羞草研究所檝e developed a hunger because they害羞草研究所檝e put themselves in this moment.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淎 lot of time has passed, a lot of games have been played,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd both teams, I think are at different points now, as far as it comes to rhythm and their form and what they害羞草研究所檙e fighting for in the league and things like that. It害羞草研究所檚 going to be a different game.害羞草研究所�