Gershon Koffie helps Whitecaps to reach Voyageurs Cup final in Canada

Ghanaian midfielder Gershon Koffie played the entire duration as Whitecaps FC beat Edmonton 2-1 in a thrilling second leg semifinal to reach the final of the Voyageurs Cup on Wednesday night.

He captained and snatched the equalizer for the Vancouver-based side in the 1-1 draw first leg tie.

Pedro Morales scored early and red-hot FC Edmonton striker Tomi Ameobi equalized late, both from the penalty spot, which set up yet another dramatic conclusion in a competition that never seems to disappoint.

And second-half sub Matias Laba played the role of hero, scoring a stoppage-time winner to seal a 3-2 aggregate win for Vancouver – and as a result, a berth in the championship final with longtime rival and defending Canadian champion Montreal Impact.

Laba’s winner, which came seven minutes into stoppage time, was his first goal in a Whitecaps FC uniform. And it couldn’t have come at a better time.

After a 1-1 draw in last week’s first leg at BC Place, Carl Robinson inserted some firepower into his lineup for Wednesday’s decisive second leg with Morales, Cristian Techera, Kendall Waston, and Russell Teibert drawing into the starting XI.

As a result, the Blue and White will move on to face longtime Eastern Canadian rival Montreal Impact in the two-leg final.