As expected, Carl Robinson made some changes, some forced, some tactical.
With left back Jordan Harvey out suspended, Residency alumni Sam Adekugbe came in for his first start of the season and only his second ever MLS start. Robinson made three other changes to the side that lost to Chivas USA on Saturday. Nigel Reo-Coker came into the midfield for Gershon Koffie, to add some bite and experience and to go up against Michael Bradley. On the wings Russell Teibert and Darren Mattocks came in for Sebastian Fernandez and Kekuta Manneh, both of whom dropped to the bench.
Toronto made two changes from the side that stormed back from a two goal deficit on Saturday to beat Houston Dynamo 4-2. Michael Bradley returned to the starting line up for Dominic Oduro and Bradley Orr stepped in for Steven Caldwell, who went off with a quad tear in the Dynamo win.
It was the Caps that had their tails up early and Darren Mattocks connected with a Pedro Morales cross to send a ball across the face of the goal in the 2nd minute but with no takers.
Morales whipped a free kick narrowly past the right post in the 9th minute as the home side let Vancouver move the ball around fairly comfortably.
That was soon to change and TFC started to assert their own pressure on the game.
Collen Warner floated a free kick into the box that just eluded Jermain Defoe at the back post, before Doneil Henry got his head on another free kick but his effort was straight at David Ousted in the 17th minute.
The game fell into a lull with Vancouver letting Toronto have a lot of possession but neither team were able to create any real chances.
That lull was nearly broken in the 41st minute when Defoe had the ball in the net after Ousted spilled a deflected shot by Luke Moore, but the English striker was in an offside position.
The half came to an unexciting end with Toronto likely to be the slight happier with the game looking like it could turn their way.
TFC upped the tempo right from the start of the second half and Ousted had to get across his goal to turn a Bradley free kick past the post two minutes in.
The Whitecaps responded with a spell of their own pressure and after a couple of near things, they took the lead in the 50th minute.
Morales played the ball outside to Russell Teibert and the Canadian's low cutback into the box was clinically finished by Darren Mattocks from eight yards out.
TFC made some changes but Vancouver weren't looking too troubled. The home side got themselves back in the match though in the 63rd minute when Reo-Coker's clumsy challenge on Jackson in the box led to a penalty which Defoe finished with ease.
The goal sparked the game into life, with both teams looking for the go-ahead goal.
Jackson forced Ousted to tip a dipping shot over in the 69th minute but there was no real goal threat from either side as the minutes ticked down.
Substitute Nick Hagglund's diving header in the last minute had Toronto fans out of their seats but it flew over and second later it was fellow sub Gilberto who had a great chance with a header over.
That was to be it. Vancouver can be happy with a fighting road point against one of the in-form teams in MLS but they'll be disappointed by the nature of their downfall and the lack of clear chances created.
Now they move on to another tough road game at Real Salt Lake. Another draw wouldn't be catastrophic but the signs are there that the Caps need to strengthen their squad in this transfer window if they want to be challenging for the playoffs come October.
FINAL SCORE: Toronto FC 1 - 1 Vancouver Whitecaps
ATT: 22,591
TORONTO: Joe Bendik; Mark Bloom (Nick Hagglund 55), Bradley Orr, Doneil Henry, Justin Morrow; Jackson (Gilberto 77), Michael Bradley, Collen Warner, Jonathan Osorio (Dominic Oduro 59); Luke Moore, Jermain Defoe [subs Not Used: Chris Konopka, Kyle Bekker, Daniel Lovitz, Dwayne DeRosario]
VANCOUVER: David Ousted; Steven Beitashour, Carlyle Mitchell, Johnny Leveron, Sam Adekugbe; Matias Laba, Nigel Reo-Coker (Gershon Koffie 71), Russell Teibert (Kekuta Manneh 82), Pedro Morales, Darren Mattocks, Erik Hurtado (Sebastian Fernandez 90+3) [subs Not Used: Paolo Tornaghi, Andy O’Brien, Nicolas Mezquida, Omar Salgado]
[*** Post game reaction to follow ***]