Two great moments of indivual skill from Ryan Johnson ensured that Toronto FC’s CONCACAF Champions League campaign will continue into the group stages.

“I know exactly what to expect,” said Johnson. “I know the fields aren’t going to be good. I know it’s going to be very humid, it’s going to be a pretty hostile atmosphere. They’re going to have all their friends and family supporting them, but it’s for us to stay together as a team and support each other on the field, on the bench — everybody."

Last month, Eric Avila was envisioning himself playing soccer in Mexico. Now, he’s a member of Toronto FC.Avila, an attacking midfielder, was acquired by Toronto FC Tuesday in a deal that sent forward Maicon Santos the other way.

The former face of Toronto FC is the MLS Player of the Week.The North American Soccer Reporters voted Dwayne De Rosario as the top performer of week 20. The Scarborough native notched both goals — each of them a highlight-reel finish — as D.C. United went on the road and defeated the San Jose Earthquakes by a 2-0 score.

By the time the whistle blew ending the hostilities, both streaks had come to an end as the hosts took the game by a 1-0 score with 38-year-old Eddy Sebrango giving his team the win and taking the team scoring lead with three goals and six points despite having played in only six of the Impact’s 18 games thus far.

"When you come back and make it 2-2, it's very good but honestly you have to win the game because we've lost two points,” TFC head coach Aron Winter said after the match.

Saturday’s match between the Vancouver Whitecaps (last overall in MLS) and the Los Angeles Galaxy (first overall) played out a lot like a mid-round FA Cup match.That is, the kind of FA Cup match that pits the Blue Square Premier club, or even a semipro factory team, that made a Cinderella run through the early round having to face one of the Premiership big boys.

MLS is doing the right thing. For years, soccer fans have heard major bodies from FIFA to UEFA to the major European leagues to promise that they will do something about diving. It has only been lip service.

The Vancouver Whitecaps, who have surrendered 30 goals in 21 league games this season, cut two defenders loose on Thursday.

"I went to pick it up like I've picked up a million balls like that," Kocic said. "It was wet grass and then all of a sudden dry grass I was sliding on and the dry grass flipped me over the ball....It's unacceptable, obviously. The mistake shouldn't happen but that's sport, what can I say?"