Toronto beat Halifax Tide 2:0 in the National Superleague regular season on Saturday. The visitors moved further clear of the Canadian side at the halfway point of the campaign. By then, the gap between third and fifth place had grown to seven points.
Halifax sit fifth with 21 points from 18 games. They've won six, drawn three and lost nine so far. To be fair, their recent run looked steadier — two wins and a draw in their last three before this result.
Toronto remain in third with 28 points after 17 matches. Eight wins, four draws and five losses give them a comfortable cushion above the mid-table. The away win extends their unbeaten streak away from home.
And here's the thing about the standings — Toronto have played one fewer game than Halifax. That matters when you're chasing a top-four finish. They could close the gap to four points with a win next time out.
Halifax now face a run of fixtures that will test their resolve. They've lost three of their last five and need to find consistency before the season slips away.