The 5,600-kilometre trip is so daunting, so logistically difficult for a travelling contingent of 22 people, that the only way it can be done is to break the group into two.

So far this season, Toronto FC looks to have shaken the “finalists’ curse” that has haunted so many MLS Cup runners-up in the past.

Maybe this Saturday night was the night soccer finally arrived in Edmonton.

So, the extra week off gave the Eddies a chance to hit the restart button on their season. At least, that’s how the team sees it as it prepares for a visit from the Indy Eleven.

There were some other interesting Canadian storylines that developed over the weekend. In the loss to Vancouver, Canadian Tyler Pasher made his MLS debut, playing 45 minutes for Sporting Kansas City.

But no one matched Tosaint Ricketts, who scored three times in two matches for Toronto FC. He scored two match-winning goals, as the Reds grew their winning streak to six games.

The first edition the NASL’s unofficial Canadian derby went to San Francisco Deltas.

FC Edmonton captain Nik Ledgerwood didn’t sugar-coat his critique of his team’s play after the Eddies were eliminated at the first stage of the Canadian Championship for the second year in a row by the Ottawa Fury.

A few of the FC Montreal diaspora have scattered through the USL; and, so far, the most successful of the bunch is Mastanabal Kacher, who got two goals for Colorado Springs this weekend, and now has four on the season.

On Saturday, based on the balance of play, the Eddies deserved to end Indy’s home undefeated streak, but couldn’t find the necessary goal. FCE had to be satisfied with a 0-0 draw.