| Inter Toronto vs. Vancouver FC April 19 a 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT York Lions Stadium Watch Live: OneSoccer Tickets available here |
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For the first time this season, the Eagles fly the nest as they travel out east to take on Inter Toronto to conclude matchweek 3 in the CPL on Sunday.
It's a return to York Lions Stadium for Vancouver FC head coach Martin Nash, who was on the touchline for Inter Toronto for three-and-a-half seasons between 2021 and 2024. This is the first time he returns to his former stomping grounds with a different club.
Nash and Vancouver FC did face Inter Toronto in Langley at the end of last season, winning 2-1 on September 21 on a goal from another Inter Toronto alumnus, full-back Paris Gee.
The Eagles, however, have not won in Toronto since they picked up their first-ever victory as a club at York Lions Stadium in a 2-1 win on April 22, 2023.
Both clubs come into Sunday's clash looking for their first win of the season after late goals cost each of them points this past weekend. For Vancouver, it was all three as a 90th-minute Max Filion winner for Forge saw them drop a 1-0 result for the second straight weekend.
Inter Toronto, meanwhile, led twice against the Halifax Wanderers in their home opener before conceding an 86th-minute equalizer that cost them a winning start to the season.
The positive, however, was the play of Julian Altobelli, who scored a season-opening brace for the second consecutive year. The Inter Toronto danger man will look to continue his strong start to the season on Sunday, when he faces a Vancouver side against whom he has scored three goals in three victories in three career meetings.
Inter Toronto head coach Mauro Eustáquio liked how clinical his group was in their opening match against Halifax, but maybe weren't as consistantly dangerous as he wanted them to be. Playing on the front foot and dictating the tempo of games is what he wants his team's DNA to become.
Scoring will be a key focus for Vancouver FC on Sunday. Despite a very strong start to the season performance-wise, they are still without a point, largely due to their struggles in front of goal. Through two matches, Vancouver FC have accumulated 3.41 expected goals, and are second in the league in touches in the opposition box with 52. They still have not scored.
Still, there is plenty of internal belief that their strong performances to begin the season will bring results sooner rather than later.
For both clubs, however, the longer they go without a win the more questions will start to be asked.
Inter Toronto and Vancouver FC are clubs fighting to reach new heights in 2026, and for one of them that push could truly start with a big three points on Sunday.
NEWS & NOTES
- Vancouver's Tyler Crawford has served his two-match suspension to begin the season and will be available for selection on Sunday.
- Oswaldo León has three matches remaining to serve in his suspension.
- Inter Toronto are still without international signings Raúl López, Ariel Almagro and Sebastián Gonzáles. Kembo Kibato also remains sidelined with an injury. However, central defender Alex Bergman is fit and available for selection.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Inter Toronto: Urtiaga; Ferrari, Singh, Gómez, Sturing, Jimoh; Córdova, Yeates, Bassett; Skublak, Altobelli
Vancouver FC: Irving; Doner, Campagna, Field, Gee; Pecile, Polisi, Mezquida; Toomey, Amissi, Bah
KEY QUOTES
"They're obviously going to want to bounce back from two positive performances, but two negative results. It's a team that's going to come out here and want to change a little bit what their season is. They do have a lot of quality, but we want to make sure that we bounce back from our draw from last weekend and get the three points." — Inter Toronto head coach Mauro Eustáquio
"I think points and winning games now at the start of the season is equally as important as when you get to around game 24-25 and then you're hoping for other teams to drop points. I think every game is equally important, and if we can get off to a good start, and winning, and get as many points early in the season as possible, then I think as the season goes on, we start to understand each other's game a lot better. " — Inter Toronto midfielder Ollie Bassett
"Obviously, different from when I was there several years ago, but they have some players that we have to watch out for. I don't think it will be too much of a problem for us. All the guys in our starting eleven and off the bench right now are playing well. So I think we've just got to stick to our guns and put out a good performance like we have the past two weeks." — Vancouver FC full-back Paris Gee