Manitoba's Hellas SC upset the defending champion Calgary Callies in the opening match of the 2009 BMO National Championships Challenge Trophy competition. Hellas SC substitutes Chris Musto and Ulrick Disna scored second-half goals en route to a 2:1 victory over Calgary.
"We knew it was going to be tough, but we knew they may overlook us (as a weaker team)," said Hellas SC coach Kostas Vailas. "The plan was to hold back and have patience because our guys have the talent and the skill."
Calgary has won the Challenge Trophy in back-to-back years and is trying to become the first team to win three straight men's national championships. In the last 11 years, the Callies won the Challenge Trophy in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2008. The team also won silver in 2006.
Calgary's Felix Napuri, a four-time Challenge Trophy champion, opened the scoring with a header in the 43rd minute, shortly before the half-time break. Hellas SC's Chris Musto then tied the score in the second half in the 50th minute.
After a lengthy stoppage in play as a result of an injury to André Duberry, both teams settled in and appeared to be heading for a 1-1 draw. In the 89th minute, however, Disna found the back of the net to secure a 2:1 victory for Hellas SC.
In other Group A action, British Columbia's West Van FC pulled off an injury-time 2:1 victory over Ontario's Real Toronto. Kadian Lecky was the Toronto goal scorer in the 25th minute before Robbie Giezen equalised in the 91st minute and Paul Dailey won the match in the 94th minute.
In Group B action, Prince Edward Island's Avondale Islanders won 4:1 over Nova Scotia's Halifax City. Ryan Anstey scored all four goals for the Islanders while Matthew Budreski countered for Halifax City. In the other Group B match, Newfoundland Labrador's Holy Cross matched Québec's Royal Sélect Beauport in a 1:1 draw. Royal's Boris Salou scored in the 77th minute before Holy Cross' Zach Wade equalised six minutes later.
BMO Financial Group is proud to support soccer at all levels across Canada, from grassroots to Canadas national teams. Starting with sponsorship of more than 400 Canadian youth teams to the title support of elite youth players at the BMO National Championships, through to the professional-team support (Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and sponsorship of the Canadian mens and womens national soccer teams, BMO Financial Group is serious about Canadian soccer. For more information on BMOs support of soccer in Canada, visit bmosoccer.com.