Mar 2, 2017; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Vancouver Whitecaps forward Fredy Montero (12) celebrates his goal against New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles (31) (not pictured) during the second half at BC Place Stadium. The Vancouver Whitecaps won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Vancouver Whitecaps FC play one of the biggest matches in their history on Tuesday night. The Whitecaps face Tigres UANL of the Liga MX in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.

This is a big one. The Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS and Tigres UANL of the Liga MX kick off their CCL semifinal series Tuesday night. At stake is a place in the final of the regional tournament and a chance to represent CONCACAF in the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup in December.

But before Vancouver can start dreaming, they have 180 minutes to get through against the Mexican champions. In this preview, we look at Caps coach Carl Robinson’s keys to survival in the first leg.

Defend as a Team

Defense is going to be key, with Tigres likely looking to kill the series off in the first leg. That means the whole team needs to be on the same page when it comes to defending. Every player has to be willing to track back and put in a defensive shift. Kekuta Manneh’s lackluster defending on the weekend for San Jose’s equalizer was a perfect example of what not to do. That means Robinson should favor Brek Shea over Manneh on the left wing.

A huge part of defense is also communication. As a result, Robinson should be going for the defensive pairing with the most minutes on the field together in Kendall Waston and Tim Parker. Christian Dean has been impressive in his two MLS starts this season, but there’s no room for the type of miscommunication that led to David Ousted’s red card on Saturday.

Put Pressure on Tigres

Far too often the Whitecaps resort to what can only be called “hoof and pray” style tactics. Any time the ball comes near the penalty area, one of the defenders just kicks it as far away as possible. That won’t work against Tigres, who will relish the opportunity to take their time with the ball.

Instead, Vancouver should take any chance to press the Tigres defense, while still staying compact at the back. Similar tactics to what were employed in the first 20 minutes against San Jose, to great success. In Nicolás Mezquida, Alphonso Davies, and Fredy Montero they have the players to trouble the defense. Shea can provide some muscle on the left wing to complement Davies’ speed on the right.

Use Substitutions Wisely

Robinson gets a lot of criticism for his substitutions. He often makes subs late in the game, and they seem to be according to a pre-game plan rather than targeting what is happening on the field.

Against Tigres, players will tire rapidly, and it’s essential that subs aren’t left too late. In Cristian Techera, Kekuta Manneh, and Erik Hurtado, Robinson has speedsters on the bench who would enjoy running at tired defenders. If the Caps are seeing none of the ball, Christian Bolaños is one player who make a difference in maintaining possession. If something starts to go wrong, there are options on the bench – they just can’t make a difference if they’re left sitting.

Don’t Panic

The semifinal won’t be won on Tuesday, but it can be lost. For a team that’s prone to self-destruction, it’s vital to keep this in mind.

The Whitecaps will be playing in front of a hostile crowd, against a very talented team. Throw in a CONCACAF referee, and there’s a good chance things will start to go wrong for Vancouver.

An early goal conceded, a defensive blunder, a red card – there were dozens of examples last season of the Whitecaps shooting themselves in the foot and then collapsing. The players need to stay focused no matter what the game throws at them. That will give them the best chance of taking a result home to BC Place that they can work with in the second leg.

Predicted lineup:

Match Info

What: CONCACAF Champions League semifinal, 1st leg

Who: Tigres UANL vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

When: Tuesday, March 14th, 7 pm PT (10 pm ET)

Where: Estadio Universitario, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico

How to Watch: TSN1 (Canada); Univision Deportes Network (U.S.); Facebook Live (online)

Can the Whitecaps pull off a shock result? Let us know your predictions in the comment box below.