TFC fans with long memories will recall just how frustrating July 1, 2008 was. On that day the Vancouver Whitecaps came to town with one thing in mind -- to defend against their MLS opposition. Time and time again on that night, TFC would go forward looking dangerous. And each time their USL opponents would do just enough to stop them.
And then Martin Nash drew a penalty on a play when the Caps were not threatening (Note: He would not have drawn the call 99 times out of 100. To say it was borderline is being generous). The Caps scored and then keeper Jay Nolly took over.
The game became the Jay Nolly show, actually. He stood on his head.
The only time Nolly was beaten on the night the play was, incorrectly, blown offside. It was only the second Nutrilite Canadian Championship game of all-time, but already we had our first upset. The home team fans went home miserable, losing 1-0 despite having the majority of the chances and possession.
The result ended up costing Toronto the Voyageurs Cup that year as Montreal was able to win without beating the Reds, largely because Vancouver took the full three points off them at BMO Field.
Nearly three years later, Whitecaps fans now know what it felt like to be Toronto that day.
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The Caps were the better side last night. Of that there is little doubt. They were robbed of a clear penalty and also the victim of a possible non-call late when Dan Gargan appeared to complete an illegal back-pass to Stefan Frei 5-yards from goal. Unlike Toronto back in 2008, the Caps did get a goal, but they also allowed one. The 1-1 draw does not kill their Voyageurs Cup chances, but it does put them in serious doubts. TFC is a better club at home and with an away goal they are the favourites to win the trophy now.
Should TFC fans be happy with the result? Absolutely. It's Cup play. The result is all that matters. Manchester City just won the FA Cup after going on a run that saw them need two replays against Lower League sides. Do you think anyone at Eastlands cares about how unconvincing the Cup run was now that 35-years of losing has been erased?
It's hard to see how Vancouver can recover from this game. Again, just like TFC in 08, this is a club that looks snake bitten right now. I'm not sure the tie wasn't won when Maicon Santos scored the equalizer last night.
If you want to be negative you can focus on the overall play of TFC. You can look at the mistakes and think they were lucky. But, sometimes you need to just find a way to get the result you need and tonight TFC did just that.
And, fair or not, that's all that matters..