TORONTO - The next time Montreal Impact executives sit down with Major League Soccer officials to discuss the possibility of entering North America's top league, they should bring the Nutrilite Canadian Championship trophy to the boardroom.

The long-time member of the second-tier United Soccer Leagues claimed the inaugural Canadian title with a 1-1 tie against Toronto FC - the country's lone MLS team - in the final game of the three-team, round-robin tournament before a disappointed crowd of 20,107 on Tuesday at BMO Field.

"The platform (for entering MLS) was already set," said Impact head coach John Limniatis, whose team (2-1-1) needed only a tie against TFC (1-1-2) to win the tournament against Toronto and the USL's Vancouver Whitecaps (1-2-1).

"I think, obviously, this helps. This just shows we're capable of competing ... From what I understand, we're aiming for the start of the 2011 season to be in the MLS."

Indeed, Impact president Joey Saputo has made no secret of his plans to team up with Montreal Canadians owner George Gillett to elevate the team to MLS. The Impact's performance in the opening event of MLS all-star week in Toronto certainly won't hurt the duo's cause.

The Impact bounced back in the standings - Montreal lost 1-0 to Toronto in the championship opener - and on the scoreboard on Tuesday. Roberto Brown erased a 1-0 deficit by heading in a corner from Joey Gjertsen in the 26th minute to earn the right to represent Canada in the CONCACAF Champions League. Montreal will square off with Nicaraguan champion Real Esteli in a home-and-away series to open Champions League play in late August and early September.

"There's a lot of talk between the MLS and USL and how different the leagues are," said Impact captain Nevio Pizzolitto, whose team is second-last in the USL standings. "Let me tell you the leagues aren't all that different. The ball is round, the game could have gone either way and I'm just happy to come out with the tie."

It was a bitter pill to swallow for TFC and its rabid fans as Toronto extended its winless streak to nine games (0-5-4).

"What disappoints me is I read one or two of our players talk about Montreal playing in a lower league and that's rubbish," Toronto head coach John Carver said. "That's absolutely rubbish. They've shown that again. Although we've taken four points off them, they've gone on to win it."

Toronto's biggest problem during its winless skid has been its inability to score and that issue came to the forefront again when the team blew a golden opportunity to win the tournament in dramatic fashion in the 89th minute. Amado Guevara's free kick was headed off the post by Julius James before Pizzolitto managed to clear the ball off the goal line toward goalie Matt Jordan, who corralled it before Toronto forward Jeff Cunningham could get a foot on it.

Apart from that, Toronto couldn't do much in the second half against a Montreal team that wasn't taking many risks, despite being awarded a handful of free kicks in dangerous territory. Carver has been saying for months that the team needs to sign a striker or two. That's even more of a priority now with leading scorer Danny Dichio sidelined with a concussion.

"Unless we do something, this season is going to peter out," Carver said, "And I don't want that to happen ... I think if you look at the starting line up where we have to depend on a 16-year-old boy (Abdus Ibrahim) as our lead striker, that tells you everything."

Carver wasn't shy about criticizing his players as he took shots at Guevara and U.S. Olympic team member Marvell Wynne for inconsistent play, Cunningham for failing to score with the game on the line and lone all-star Jim Brennan for not marking Brown better on the header.

Brennan, who will join the MLS all-stars for a game against West Ham United of the English Premiership Thursday, did set up Rohan Ricketts for a goal on a header in the 15th minute.

The Impact, meanwhile, can look forward to having a chance to compete against the world's best teams.

"What I told the players before the game is, 'What would you rather do?"' Limniatis said. "'Would you rather play more games or practice more? It's your choice."'

Notes: Toronto FC will resume its MLS schedule on Monday in Utah against Western Conference-leading Real Salt lake. The Impact has just two days off before heading to Rochester on Friday to begin a USL home-and-away series against the Rhinos ... Two Impact players were on Toronto's roster last season - defender Adam Braz and midfielder Cristian Nunez, a reserve player for FC.

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