Last week in Ottawa, Vancouver Whitecaps FC were battered, and they were beaten. They returned home with tails firmly tucked between legs, where they would need to reverse a 2-goal deficit. Vancouver had gone into that first leg thinking that they could rest some players. They are after all the defending Champions of Canada, and they finished 3rd in the Major League last year. But Ottawa Fury FC were no pushovers. It took three tiebreakers to separate them from New York Cosmos, and they were Cup Finalists last year. Fielding a nearly full strength squad, the 'Caps didn't waste any time in the second leg. Nicolás Mezquida won a 3rd minute penalty after Rafael Alves pushed him down in the box. Pedro Morales calmly sent Ottawa goalkeeper Romuald Peiser the wrong way, and cut the deficit in half. Less than twenty minutes later, Mezquida erased that deficit when he converted a nifty cross from Octavio Rivero. Alphonso Davies, a 15-year old striker from Liberia making his first professional start, would have sent the crowd of 17,863 into rapture had it not been for the woodwork. But there was a sense of when the third goal would come, not if.
Read MoreDraw gives Rabbits a slender advantage heading into the Second Leg
With a match against defending League Champion Seattle Sounders FC on the weekend, Vancouver Whitecaps FC manager Carl Robinson elected to field a weakened side against visiting division two side FC Edmonton. That decision could come back to haunt him, as the Rabbits hopped out to an early lead thanks to a 4th minute Tomi Ameobi strike.
Read MoreScooter involved in a Fender-Bendik
During the close season, Toronto FC lobbied hard for the services of Tottenham Hotspur FC's striker Jermain Defoe, and AS Roma's midfielder Michael Bradley.
Read MoreOttawa undone by Edmonton's touch of class
I connected my tele to the internet. I sat in my favourite recliner. I even had my pie and chips. But what I didn't have on Tuesday night was a stream.
Read More