TORONTO - Advantage Toronto FC going into the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final.

But only just. And it took a while for Toronto to hit high gear at home in a 1-0 win over the Whitecaps before an enthusiastic crowd of 20,011 on a beautiful Tuesday evening at BMO Field.

"I thought we were terrible in the first half and much better in the second half," said Toronto coach Greg Vanney. "Ironically we scored in the first half and didn't score in the second half."

Sebastian Giovinco, whose influence grew as the game wore on, scored the lone goal in the 43rd minute but could have had several on the night as Toronto fielded a lineup closer to its norm than Vancouver did.

The result means Vancouver needs to score and keep Toronto from doing so at B.C. Place in the second leg June 29. It's not impossible - the Whitecaps came back from two goals down against Ottawa in the semifinal - but it won't be easy. Toronto is not Ottawa and Tuesday marked TFC's eighth shutout of the season.

"It's not what we wanted, obviously we tried to get the away goal," said Vancouver coach Carl Robinson. "But we'll work with it and we'll try to win the game at home. And we know that we need to win the game by two goals. And we need to not give anything up."

Giovinco put Toronto ahead in the 43rd minute. Taking a pass from Mo Babouli, the Italian star hit the accelerator and passed several defenders as he cut inside, making room to rifle a shot from just outside the penalty box that deflected in off defender Kendall Waston.

"A bit fortuitous," Robinson said of the goal. But he conceded the game result was probably fair.

Vancouver likely deserved better than to go in a goal down after 45 minutes. But Toronto controlled the second half with Giovinco looking increasingly dangerous. Vancouver tried to counter, throwing on Blas Perez and Kekuta Manneh. Toronto kept pushing for a second goal deep into stoppage time.

"Second half they were the better team," said Robinson, who thought his team probably deserved a goal in the first half. "We dodged a few bullets like you need to do and we hung on in there."

Said Vanney: "Should we have scored more goals? Yes. Could they have had a goal? Maybe."

Vanney said his offence improved because the team began to move the ball around, stretching the Vancouver defence and giving Giovinco more room to work his magic.

Toronto outshot Vancouver 22-10 (7-5 in shots on target) and had 10 corners to Vancouver's six.

Toronto fielded virtually a full-strength starting lineup other than captain Michael Bradley, away with the U.S. team at Copa America, the injured Jozy Altidore (hamstring) and Damien Perquis, who is said to be feeling a little "battered."

The Whitecaps rested the likes of Matias Laba, Tim Parker, Nicolas Mezquida, Andrew Jacobson and Cristian Techera as Robinson opted for a mixed squad with 15-year-old midfielder Alphonso Davies continuing his Cup run. Davies, part of the Whitecaps 2 setup, is the youngest player to make a first-team appearance for the Whitecaps.

"He didn't look out of place which is very pleasing for him," said Robinson. "I know he was taking pictures before the game on the field which shows he's 15 years of age."

Davies faded somewhat as the game wore on and was substituted in the 67th minute.

The Whitecaps also got Waston, captain Pedro Morales and striker Octavio Rivero back from suspensions that saw them miss a 2-1 league loss to New England on the weekend. Waston is currently serving a two-game MLS ban but was able to play since league suspensions don't extend to the Canadian championship.

Canadian international midfielder Russell Teibert started for Vancouver, setting a record with his 16th appearance in the Canadian Championship and served as captain after Morales was subbed off in the second half.

"I take pride in that," said Teibert. "I take pride in (Vancouver) being the reigning Canadian champions and I want to be a Canadian champion again this year."

The Whitecaps started five Canadians to Toronto's three.

The tournament winner claims the Voyageurs Cup and advances to the CONCACAF Champions League where a berth in the FIFA Club World Cup and US$500,000 go to the winner.

Vancouver opened strongly with Clint Irwin making an acrobatic save to deny a Rivero header in the fourth minute. Giovinco cut a forlorn figure in the early going, but was denied service.

Giovinco, irate that assistant referee Marie-Josee Charbonneau had not called a foul, berated her in the final seconds of the first half and eventually had to be pulled away by Vancouver defender Pa-Modou Kah. The Atomic Ant made amends by shaking hands with the official before the second half.

Toronto has won the Canadian title four times to Montreal's three and Vancouver's one.

TFC has had Vancouver's number in previous finals, defeating the Whitecaps at the final stage from 2009 to 2012. Montreal denied Vancouver in 2013. The Whitecaps finally lifted the trophy in 2015, improving its record in the final to 1-5.

Tuesday's game was the second of five in 15 days for Toronto FC, who play in Orlando on Saturday. Vancouver's schedule is equally crowded. The Whitecaps play Saturday in Philadelphia.

BMO Field, meanwhile, will get a workout this week as the Toronto Argos have their home opener Thursday and Canada hosts Italy in a rugby test match Sunday.