Nutrilite Canadian Championship, Leg 2: Toronto FC Looking Good

Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps may head into Wednesday's second leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship tied, but that doesn't mean they are even. Maicon Santos' 73rd minute goal in last week's first leg gave the Reds the all important away goal, meaning the Whitecaps will have to score at least one of their own to have a chance at advancing.

Previewing the second leg are Benjamin Massey of 86 Forever and Duncan Fletcher of Waking the Red:

Waking the Red: What went right? Well TFC scored a goal, and somehow, I'm not entirely sure how, avoided letting in more than one. Nick Soolsma had a great game on the right wing, and that's really about it. What went wrong? Jacob Peterson and Tony Tchani both left the game with injuries in the first half, and from there on it was almost all Vancouver. Fatigue and a defensive substitution meant TFC spent the last 15 minutes basically inviting the Whitecaps to attack them.

86 Forever: Finishing. Finishing finishing finishing. The Vancouver Whitecaps had so many glorious scoring opportunities you could have made a highlight reel out of it. If the team stopped smashing crossbars and hitting shots from in close wide and holding the ball for a second too long, they'd have won that game by two or three goals and we'd be planning a parade route. Instead, the Whitecaps head into Toronto at a heavy disadvantage thanks to TFC's away goal and will need their best game of the season to take the trophy home.

Waking the Red: Qualifying for the qualifying round of the CCL is important and would provide a welcome distraction to what looks like being a long MLS season. But the biggest thing is definitely beating a rival, with the slight wrinkle that that rival is all of Canada, with Montreal more important than Vancouver to TFC fans. The Voyageur's Cup and being Canadian champion again are what this is really all about.

86 Forever: I think both Toronto and Vancouver fans would agree that the trophy is the main thing. Neither the Whitecaps nor TFC view each other as their main rivals: Toronto reserves more dislike for Montreal and Columbus while Vancouver is of course embroiled in the legendary Cascadia Cup. There's no doubt that getting a victory over Toronto is a little sweeter for a Whitecaps fan than beating FC Edmonton would have been. But if the Whitecaps do pull it out, we'll be celebrating the Voyageurs Cup, not a victory over Toronto.

Waking the Red: A good start, and I think TFC should be ok in that regard, They have a more consistent lineup now which has been able to start games off solidly. A good finish, and that could be a problem, fatigue is playing a part and the last few games have seen TFC wither and barely hang on at the end. Aside from that, a moment of individual inspiration up front, the system as a whole is more solid defensively, but there's not a lot of consistent pressure and the offence has come form counter attacks or wing play form the likes of Joao Plata and Nick Soolsma.

86 Forever: A magnificent effort and a minor miracle. The Vancouver Whitecaps threw everything they had at Toronto last Wednesday and got an (unlucky) draw. They'll be playing in front of the famous BMO Field crowd, which isn't what it used to be but is still one of the most intimidating away environments in MLS. Toronto played a pretty good defensive game in Colorado and their form seems to be improving week on week. The Whitecaps have one road win this season: the previous round of the Voyageurs Cup against a Montreal Impact team that's getting walloped in the NASL this season. This is a very bad position to be in.

Waking the Red: Stefan Frei. 0-0 would be good enough for TFC so a clean sheet for Frei is all TFC need. Whether that happens or not, he's always a busy busy man, and will definitely be called upon at some stage to make an important stop or two. The TFC defence will definitely bend, that's just what it does, if Frei can stop it from breaking too often, TFC should have enough to win.

86 Forever: The Whitecaps need scoring, and that means they need Davide Chiumiento. Chiumiento has been the straw that stirs the drink in most of Vancouver's best efforts this season, but his inconsistency has also doomed Vancouver to their share of dropped points. Which Chiumiento will show up? In a must-win game against a rival on natural grass, Chiumiento might be at his best: weaving between defenders, setting up glorious opportunities, and constantly leaving Toronto off-balance. Or playing out of his preferred position in a tournament he's almost unfamiliar with, Chiumiento might not care: drifting aimlessly up and down the wing, doing no work to get the ball, and farting around with it aimlessly when he does receive it. A lot will hang on what Dede does.