OTTAWA – Ottawa Fury FC booked a matchup with defending Canadian Championship and MLS Cup holder Toronto FC in the Semifinals of the 2018 Canadian Championship as it took a 1-0 victory against AS Blainville at TD Place to advance 2-0 on aggregate in the Second Qualifying Round.

Reigning Première Ligue de soccer du Québec champion Blainville came out brightly as it looked to neutralize Ottawa’s advantage from the first leg, and a good challenge was needed by Fury FC defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguere to close down an early threat by forward Pierre-Rudolph Mayard in the third minute.

The visitors went close again in the 12th minute when Maxime Leconte had a shot from the edge of the penalty area saved by Ottawa goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, but as the half continued the hosts got more of a hold on possession which resulted in the opening goal of the night. Adonijah Reid created the chance as he slipped past his marker on the left, and while Tony Taylor was challenged before he could put home the cutback from the byline, Carl Haworth was on hand to fire a low finish home for a 2-0 aggregate lead.

Taylor almost added to Fury FC’s advantage on the half-hour mark as he got in behind the defense into the left side of the penalty area only to send his finish just wide of the right post, but the hosts took the lead to the break as while Blainville had threatening moments it was unable to seriously test Crepeau in Ottawa’s net.

The hosts again went close as Reid played Taylor into the right side of the penalty area six minutes into the second half only for Blainville goalkeeper Erwann Ofouya to make a good save that turned the effort wide of the left post, while Mayard send a finish from the left side of the penalty area for the visitors wide in the 63rd minute, and the Blainville forward had another chance with 11 minutes to go on a counterattack only to send his finish high over the crossbar.

Blainville continued to look for a way back into the game, and Mayard had a long-range free kick saved by Crepeau in stoppage time. As it had a week ago, however, Ottawa wrapped up the shutout to set up a date with Toronto FC next month.