Montreal Impact aim to conquer Canada

There is only one way into the CONCACAF Champions League for Canadian soccer teams,and it's by winning the Canadian Championship.

The tournament begins tonight with the Montreal Impact squaring off against Toronto FC in the first leg of the semifinals. The Vancouver Whitecapswill play the Ottawa Furyin the other semifinal.

Montreal is looking to reclaim theCanadian title after losing it last yearto Vancouver.

• Whitecaps blank Impact to win 1st Canadian Championship title

CONCACAF Champions League

The winner of the Canadian Championship will qualify for the 2017-2018 CONCACAF Champions League, a tournament to decide the best team in North and Central America.

Montreal has reachedthe Champions Leaguetournament three times in its history. The most recent was in 2014-2015 andthat yearthe Impact advanced all the way to the final before losing to Mexican side Club America.

• Montreal Impact's road to the CONCACAF Champions League final

• Montreal Impact fall short in CONCACAF final

In 2013-2014 Montreal were eliminated in the group stage and in 2008-2009 they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by another Mexican team,Santos Laguna.

Donadel Out

The Impact will be without midfielder Marco Donadel for at least the next four weeks due to an ankle injury.

Donadel suffered the injury in the first half of the team's 3-2 win over the L.A. Galaxy at Stade Saputo on Saturday.

Montreal will also be without defenders Laurent Ciman, Ambroise Oyongo and Donny Toia. Ciman and Oyongo are away on international team duty and Toia is out with an injury.

• Laurent Ciman named MLS defender of the year

On the plus side, however, Didier Drogba has made the trip with the team to Toronto for the game and there is a good chance he will play in Wednesday night's game.

Giovinco Questionable

Toronto, on the other hand, could be without its top player, Sebastian Giovinco.

Giovinco is listed asday-to-day after suffering an abdominal injury in a game against the New York Red Bulls last Saturday.

• Injured star striker Sebastian Giovinco remains a question mark

Toronto will also have to make due without stars Jozy Altidoreand Michael Bradley.

Altidoreis out with a hamstring injury and Bradleyis with the United Statesnational team.

The first leg of the semifinal between Montreal and Toronto kicks off tonightat 7:30 p.m.

Gametwo is the following week onWednesday, June 8, at Stade Saputo in Montreal.

List of pastCanadian Champions

• 2008:Montreal Impact
• 2009:Toronto FC
• 2010:Toronto FC
• 2011:Toronto FC
• 2012:Toronto FC
• 2013:Montreal Impact
• 2014:Montreal Impact
• 2015:Vancouver Whitecaps