The second stage of the Canadian Championship got underway Tuesday, as the three MLS teams got into the fray. The first legs provided plenty of talking points:

But, there are days, my word, there are days when you look at MLS like the most annoying girlfriend/boyfriend you've ever had. Being a Canadian fan of MLS is like watching your partner flirt with everyone at the bar, but the second you say you’re done, that person’s back with a gift and a promise that really, this time, (s)he’ll change.

History has shown us that teams that get to championship games and lose, well, they tend to really struggle the year after that. Statistically speaking, Toronto FC’s season was doomed before it even began. So, how do the Reds buck the trend and make it back to MLS Cup — and win?

Maxim Tissot had a trial with D.C. United in 2016; the club couldn’t fit him in the roster, but told him to come back in 2017. After that second trial — and a heck of a lot of paperwork — Tissot has a chance return to MLS

The spring issue of Plastic Pitch is now live in the app and can also be found at our Shopify store!

At the end of the night, the “attempts at goal” stat might be 20-2 in your opponent’s favour, so you know that those two chances you’ll get both have to end up in the back of the net.

Both teams bubbled just under the 270-minute mark when it comes to time played by Canadians.

But, for most of the second half, the loud-as-hell trumpeter (or was it a trumpet section) in Monterrey’s famous “Volcano” stadium belted out “Seasons in the Sun.” Over and over. Maybe it was because Tigres were playing the Vancouver Whitecaps Tuesday night in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal — and well, Terry Jacks is from Vancouver.

But, starting this season, each team is required to start three Canadians for each tournament match.

You know what, America? Instead of wondering “how will we ever beat Mexican teams in the CCL?” focus on trying to be better than the Canadian teams, first. Walk before you run.