VAUGHAN, Ont. — Diyaeddine Abzi scored in the added time of the first half as AS Blainville topped the Oakville Blue Devils 1-0 on Wednesday to win the qualifying round of the expanded Canadian Championship.
AS Blainville won the two-leg round with an aggregate score of 3-1.
The team based outside Montreal advances on to the second qualifying round of the Canadian Championship against Ottawa Fury FC on June 20, with defending Canadian and MLS champion Toronto FC awaiting the victor. The Montreal Impact play the Vancouver Whitecaps in the other semifinal.
The series between Oakville and Blainville was the first-ever Canadian Championship match featuring champions from the Premiere Ligue de Soccer du Quebec and League1 Ontario.
The debut of the Canadian Premier League in 2019 will further expand the Canadian Championship field.
The Canadian Press
