Whitecaps in Toronto tonight for finale of Canadian Championship

The Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC face off for more than a trophy tonight in the second leg of the Canadian Championship final.

While the Voyageurs Cup comes with a US$50,000 bonus, the real prize is entry into the CONCACAF Champions League, which can boost both a team’s bottom line and reputation.

“We’ve aspired to be one of the leading teams in this league and to me that means you’ve got be playing in CONCACAF (Champions League),” said TFC president Bill Manning.

Toronto (2018) and Montreal (2015) have both made it to the final of the regional club competition. Vancouver (2017) advanced as far as the semifinals.

The Whitecaps enter the second leg at a disadvantage after conceding two away goals to Toronto in a 2-2 tie last week at B.C. Place Stadium. The tying score was a painful own goal by former TFC defender Doneil Henry, who headed the ball into his own net in the 96th minute (Henry suffered a self-inflicted broken hand post-match).

Vancouver likely deserved better after playing with 10 men in the wake of Brazilian midfielder Felipe’s red card during first-half stoppage time.

The first-leg result means that Vancouver needs to win tonight or score at least three goals in a draw to lift the Voyageurs Cup.

Another 2-2 tie would send the series to extra time, and if needed, a penalty shootout.

Vancouver is riding high after a 2-1 weekend win in Portland that snapped the Timbers’ 15-match (10-0-5) unbeaten streak. The Caps are unbeaten in their last five games (3-0-2) in all competitions.

Toronto’s 3-2 home loss on Sunday to New York City FC ended a sixgame unbeaten run (4-0-2) in all competitions.

Toronto has won the Canadian Champion-ship six times, including the last two years, since the competition kicked off in 2008. Vancouver has hoisted the trophy once — in 2015 — and been runner-up on six occasions. “We knew we were the underdogs going into the first game. We’ll just quietly go about our business,” Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson said Tuesday. “We know we can produce performances when it matters, when it needs. But it will come down to the players. “Every game is based on the players.” Vancouver star teenager Aphonso Davies trained briefly on Tuesday after missing the Portland game with a right hip flexor strain.

“Not great,” was Robinson’s assessment of Davies’ condition.