Bob Mackin
THE BUZZ
The Vancouver Whitecaps need a win at Swangard Stadium over Major League Soccer's Toronto FC for two reasons tonight: West coast pride and to stay alive in the first Nutrilite Canadian Championship tournament (7 p.m. Team 1040, cbcsports.ca and GolTV).
LAST TIME
Martin Nash's penalty kick goal gave Vancouver the 1-0 Canada Day win at BMO Field in Toronto. The 2-1 Montreal Impact lead the bid to represent Canada in the CONCACAF Champions League. Toronto (1-1) has a game-in-hand over the Whitecaps (1-2).
NO T-DOT TALK
Toronto FC arrived yesterday and trained last night at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex. The session was closed to media. TFC fan favourite Danny Dichio is out with a concussion. MLS rookie of the year Maurice Edu is a candidate to play for the United States at the Beijing Olympics. He is also appearing in EA Sports' FIFA Soccer 09 video game, in production tomorrow in Burnaby.
THOR TALKS
"The coach of Toronto has been complaining about our way of playing, but I cannot understand that because I don't think we were unfair or brittle," said Whitecaps' coach Teitur Thordarson. "Definitely not. Coming from Toronto, the win was absolutely deserved."
B.C. ON FC
Toronto FC midfielder Kevin Harmse played 41 Whitecaps' games in 2004 and 2005, with one goal and two assists. Fellow midfielder Tyler Rosenlund of Port Coquitlam was cut from Whitecaps' training camp in 2005. Whitecaps' backup goalkeeper Serge Djekanovic played in eight Toronto FC games in 2007.
WE'RE BETTER THAN T.O.
Vancouver teams are 33-22-7 overall against Toronto teams dating back to 1974. The original Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League were 12-10 against Toronto Metros, Metros Croatia and the Blizzard until 1984. Since 1987, the former Eighty-Sixers have dominated "416ers" 21-12-7.
WEAR BLUE AND BOO
The Whitecaps are encouraging fans to wear blue, but not anything that says Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto FC is the soccer division of the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment corporate behemoth.
