Toronto FC must watch and wait

Toronto FC remains in the driver’s seat of the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship following Wednesday night’s 0:0 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The draw keeps Toronto FC in first place with seven points, but more importantly means it needs but a draw to clinch the championship on Match Day 6 at BMO Field on 2 June.



In the meantime, Toronto FC will watch and wait for its 2 June Vancouver opponent. The Whitecaps need back-to-back wins on the road to win the championship – 26 May at Stade Saputo in Montréal and 2 June at BMO Field in Toronto. If it fails to pick up anything less than three points in either match, it will concede the championship to Toronto FC.



Toronto FC will definitely benefit from the home crowd on 2 June. It won the right to host the first and last matches of the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship because it was the national champion in 2009. Toronto FC won the championship opener 2:0 over the Impact Montréal. That match was played in front of a championship-record 21,436 fans on 28 April.



So far this season, Toronto FC is a perfect 5-0-0 at BMO Field in Toronto. That record includes the 22 May 1:0 victory over New England Revolution in league play.



The 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship runs six consecutive Wednesday nights from 28 April to 2 June. The three teams in the championship are Impact Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Each team plays four matches in the tournament – two at home and two on the road. All six matches are broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet. The championship winner claims the Voyageurs Cup and qualifies for 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League.