Whitecaps buckle down for match against Toronto

The Vancouver Whitecaps are 17 points better than Toronto in MLS play but you can throw that out the window heading into the Canadian final, says Caps’ defender Alain Rochat.

“We don’t care about that,” said Rochat, whose club is 5-3-2 to start the MLS season, compared to Toronto’s 0-8. “This is a final. And they beat Montreal one man down in the semifinal.”

The Whitecaps host Toronto on Wednesday at B.C. Place in the first leg of the final. The return leg goes a week later at BMO Field and the eventual winner, on aggregate goals, will represent Canada in the 201213 CONCACAF Champions League group stage.

Toronto is the three-time defending Canadian champion. Vancouver, in the fifth year of this tournament, is still seeking its first title.

As the higher seed based on last year’s finish, Toronto again has the advantage of playing the first leg away.

In Toronto’s semifinal against Montreal, Aron Winter’s side was conservative on the road, where they settled for a scoreless tie. They won the return leg 2-0 to advance.

Vancouver, meanwhile, knocked off second-division Edmonton 5-1 on aggregate after a brief scare at B.C. Place.

The importance of this tournament for the Whitecaps was plain to see on Saturday, a 4-1 road loss to New England.

Coach Martin Rennie left captain Jay Demerit, reigning team MVP Camilo and veteran midfielder John Thorrington in Vancouver to rest up for Wednesday. It was a move that might have cost the Caps some MLS points.

Rochat and Carlyle Mitchell did not work as a centre back pairing, and fans will be pleased to see Demerit and Martin Bonjour again in the heart of the defence and Rochat return to left fullback, where he’s been excellent.

Rennie’s job only gets more challenging these next two weeks.

The Whitecaps host Seattle on Saturday and face Portland away the following weekend, two big derby games that don’t have a trophy on the line but do have plenty of pride at stake.

It’s clear, though, that a Canadian title is crucial.

The Caps had one hand on the trophy last season before lightning and rain forced a full replay of the second leg, which Toronto won.

“It’s like revenge for last season,” Rochat said.

Many will consider the Whitecaps as the favourite, despite Rennie agreeing with Winter’s assertion that Toronto is the best team in Canada until someone proves otherwise. Cunning of the Caps’ coach.

Regardless, opening the series at home means there’s more pressure on Vancouver than Toronto to score this week.