On Saturday, all three of Canada's Major League Soccer teams had the opportunity to clinch a place in the playoffs. Instead, the wait continues for Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact.
Toronto FC did their job with a home win over Philadelphia Union but Montreal's defeat in Orlando left both the Reds and Impact unable to celebrate a postseason place. The Whitecaps needed a win in San Jose but could only manage a 1-1 tie.
It has been a frustrating few weeks for Vancouver but they have another chance to clinch a playoff place when they host FC Dallas at BC Place on Wednesday night (live on TSN1). A point against the Texas club will see Carl Robinson's men claim a third postseason berth since the club joined MLS in 2011.
Two mistakes cost the Whitecaps dearly in their draw at San Jose. Leading 1-0 in the second half, an uncharacteristic mistake from goalkeeper David Ousted let the Quakes back into the game, but it was Kekuta Manneh's glaring miss with the final kick of the match that really stung. The Caps had a two-on-one breakaway but Manneh's poor control sent the ball straight to San Jose 'keeper David Bingham. Manneh has been much improved and more consistent this season, but at 20 years old, still lacks the composure that comes with experience.
The Whitecaps are sitting third in the Western Conference as they face a Dallas side who are just a point above them in the standings. It's the first of back-to-back games against Dallas - a series that will likely decide whether the 'Caps finish in the top two of the Western Conference.
Goal number one for the 'Caps this year was to host a home playoff game for the first time. To do that, they need a top four finish. Their chances of doing that are still very good, but a recent three-match winless run has put a big dent in their hopes of finishing second to avoid the Knockout Round and get a bye straight to the Conference Semi-Final.
The Whitecaps must do without one of their MVP candidates on Wednesday against Dallas. Defender Kendall Waston has been rewarded for his excellent play in MLS with a call-up to the Costa Rican national side. While the Whitecaps have Pa-Modou Kah standing by as a replacement, Waston's absence is a big blow. He has been magnificent again this year, and whether he has been playing alongside Kah, Tim Parker or Diego Rodriguez, the 'Caps look better defensively when Waston is in the team.
Dallas will also be missing a key piece, with the ever-dangerous Fabian Castillo away playing for Colombia, but as they showed on Sunday in a comfortable 4-1 win over rivals Houston Dynamo, they are an excellent young side with plenty of attacking pieces that can hurt teams.
With so much on the line, the Whitecaps young squad will need to show the character that has been evident throughout the season when they have faced challenging times. During a summer scoring slump, other players stepped up to fill the void - Matias Laba scored in Portland, Mauro Rosales against San Jose, Kah in Seattle - and everyone on the team will need to dig deep now with three games remaining.
The 'Caps are almost there. Barring a miracle, their playoff spot should be secure, but how far they go in postseason could depend on their final position in the standings, and for that reason, the next three matches will define just how successful this season has been for Robinson's men.
MVP
The Whitecaps have announced a shortlist for their season MVP award. For me, there are three players who deserve consideration - David Ousted, Kendall Waston and Matias Laba.
Ousted has had another excellent season in goal, winning games with some outstanding saves, and also being named the league's Player of the Month in June. Waston has been a rock at the heart of the 'Caps defence and has been crucial in the club's back line being one of the best in the league.
But it's the man that sits in front of Waston that gets my vote. Matias Laba's work often goes unnoticed. He's a defensive midfielder - it's not a sexy position, but it is crucial to this team's success. Laba leads the league in tackles won and can be relied upon as a shield protecting the Caps' defence. He also makes Gershon Koffie a better player when the two play alongside each other. This year it promises to be a close vote with some excellent candidates.