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Osorio left in disbelief after TFC makes Canadian soccer history

Reuters

Toronto FC celebrated its triumph of the Eastern Conference championship over the Montreal Impact on Wednesday night, but the victory tasted just a little sweeter for homegrown hero Jonathan Osorio.

He confirmed, when asked by theScore, that he will indeed be rewatching highlights of the epic 5-2 win over and over by the time the night ends.

You could hardly blame him as the evening offered him and his teammates a taste of glory, which sets up an MLS Cup final against the Seattle Sounders, to be played in Osorio's hometown, Toronto.

And even with a 401 Derby win under his belt, Osorio is already thinking of Dec. 10.

"We know that this city's been waiting for a champion and we want to give it to them," Osorio told reporters after the match. "We know we are capable. We have the team to do it. This is a great moment for this club.

"Trust me, everybody in this room wants one more cup, one more victory. We have a good chance to do that, playing at home, which is great for the city and for football.

"I'm trying to live in the moment and enjoy it but at the same time, I'm already thinking about the final, about how we can beat Seattle. I think everybody else in the room is too."

For Osorio, victory at this stage, and especially against this opponent, is as close to euphoria as a player can get. The Canadian midfielder, known affectionately by some as "River Bear" - his last name translates as such - has never shied away from declaring himself a fan of the club he reps with pride.

But the surreal nature of the come-from-behind victory, coupled with the roller coaster of emotions, had Osorio overwhelmed with jubilation after the final whistle.

"I can't even explain it. It's been a long time," Osorio said of the evening. "This club, the supporters have been waiting a long time for a moment like this and they deserve it. They stuck around. It's just amazing, through everything. This team has battled through adversity, and this game especially. For our guys to step up like this, it's unbelievable.

"A very special person to me told me to pray before the game and ask God to guide us and that's exactly what I did. It's unbelievable, what just happened. I can't believe it. To be on the field while that happened, that's even better."

Ultimately, Osorio has made history for the sport in his country as he and his Toronto FC teammates have become the first Canadian team to contest for the MLS Cup.

And that's an achievement Osorio now holds with honor.

"I'm just so happy. I'm so happy for football in Canada," he said. "I want it to grow. One day, football in Canada will be huge. I know it will. I don't know if I'll be alive during that time but I know it will be big."

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