I FELT LIKE IN A LOT OF WAYS WEPICKEDUP WHERE WE LEFT OFF.

“I felt like in a lot of ways we picked up where we left off,” Bezbatchenko added with cautious optimism. “We were pleased with that performance, but it was only one leg.”

How coach Vanney approaches Tuesday night’s game remains to be seen. But Vanney said not to expect a host of changes this week despite the commanding lead. The Reds still trail Tigres and Herediano — their potential quarter-final opponents — in terms of form and match fitness given those sides are well into their seasons.

Still, Vanney could be tempted to replace Auro with Gregory van der Wiel after the Dutch fullback missed last week’s first-leg trip due to the birth of his daughter. Additionally, Ager Aketxe’s transfer papers have arrived, making him eligible for Tuesday night’s tie.

“Under the right circumstances ... hopefully we can get him going,” Vanney said of the Spanish midfielder.

While the Reds have benefited from what appears to be a simple, first round test against a Colorado side that’s still tinkering ahead of another MLS season, the club’s top brass have made it be known they won’t be satisfied with simply making the last eight.

“I don’t think anyone is comfortable just being in this tournament,” Bezbatchenko said. “The expectation and the goal is to put ourselves in a position to win this tournament.”

It’s something TFC President Bill Manning has been talking about since 2015, when the Reds were a fringe playoff team, just hoping to win a post-season game.

“If we can get past Colorado then we put ourselves in a position where we’re playing either Tigres or Herediano and we get to measure ourselves again against international competition and find out where we’re at,” Bezbatchenko said.

“I think what we’re trying to do is be internationally recognized as a leader in North America. If it’s us competing in Champions League against the top team in Mexico, which is Tigres, then we’re able to do that. We’re living out the vision. At the same time, we want to win these things. We want more trophies. We want to stay competitive and show we can compete at that level.”