Montreal Impact Defend Canadian Championship Against Toronto FC

Jun 4, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; View of the Olympic Stadium (right) as seen from the Stade Saputo before the game between the Montreal Impact and the Toronto FC. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sport

If you’re a fan of the Reds, this had to hurt. If you support the Black and Blue, crank up a little John Sebastian, as they are back in the CONCACAF Champions League.

The MLS Multiplex predicted Ryan Nelsen’s Toronto FC to actually score at least once in Wednesday night’s match with Frank Klopas’s Montreal Impact. That was not the case, and in fact, after Montreal’s 1-0 victory over Toronto at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Joey Saputo would be missing the plot to sack Klopas this season. That’s because the Impact are once again the Champions of Canada after defending their Amway Canadian Championship and the Voyageurs Cup 2-1 on aggregate.

So, with that said, here are six things we learned, followed by player ratings, from Wednesday night’s second leg between the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC.
1. Missed chances early for Toronto

Early on in the first half, Toronto looked to apply the pressure. Alvaro Rey was shaken up seconds into the match but was able to return to action. A shot for Jermain Defoe in the third minute was cleared for a Toronto corner. Steven Caldwell’s shot off the corner in the fourth minute sailed wide left. Hernan Bernardello was cautioned in the fifth minute for a challenge. Defoe’s free kick in the sixth minute went wide right. A 10th minute corner from Toronto’s Daniel Lovitz was cleared. In the 14th minute, Rey had an attempt blocked.

2. Hot and cold first half

The middle of the first half was a midfield war with few chances and plenty of possession from the Reds which later turned into chances for L’Impact. Bernardello had a shot from outside of the box sail wide left in the 16th minute. In the 29th minute, a corner for Jack McInerney missed high and out. Caldwell conceded another corner in the 31st minute that was cleared. Marco Di Vaio has a shot in the 32nd minute miss wide left and collected by Toronto goalkeeper Joe Bendik.

3. Montreal waste chances late in first half

In the 36th minute, a free kick from Bernardello was collected by Bendik off the line. A shot from Di Vaio in the 38th minute missed wide left. Justin Mapp won a corner seconds later that was cleared by Toronto’s Jeremy Hall. Montreal was awarded another free kick for Bernardello in the 42nd minute, but Bendik was there to save it for a corner. A shot in the 44th minute from Di Vaio sailed wide left after Karl Ouimette and McInerney tried their luck seconds earlier.

First Half Summary – Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC
4 Corners 3
0 Missed Chances 0
22 Duels Won 20
7 Tackles Won 4
1 Saves 1
7 Clearances 11
1 Offsides 0
6 Fouls 4
1 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0

4. Montreal on the defensive in the second half

The Impact prioritized maintining the current scoreless scoreline, while Toronto FC looked to apply pressure. Early on in the second half, a chance for Montreal’s Patrice Bernier in the 47th minute hit the crossbar. A 53rd minute corner for Lovitz was cleared. Rey had an attempt in the 57th minute blocked. In the 61st minute, Defoe had a shot that was blocked and the follow-up from Kyle Bekker missed high and wide to the left.

5. Here come the reinforcements

Felipe Martins came in for Justin Mapp in the 60th minute to add a defensive front to their lineup. Meanwhile, Jonathan Osorio came in for Hall in the 67th minute. The Impact didn’t mind an extra advantage, but their corner in the 70th minute wasn’t the best of set pieces, as Andres Romero made a meal of that. Romero had another shot in the 73rd minute but it was saved by Bendik. Dwayne De Rosario came in for Rey in the 74th minute to provide offensive energy for Toronto FC, who were running out of ideas…and time. As for Montreal, McInerney exited the game for Calum Mallace.

6. Felipe seals the deal for Montreal

Montreal defender Hassoun Camara nearly iced the aggregate in the 80th minute but his volley just missed wide. A shot from Osorio in the 83rd minute hit the left post and that was the biggest chance of the night for TFC up until that minute. Bernardello’s next opportunity missed wide in the 87th minute. Klopas sent in Maxim Tissot for Andres Romero late in the 88th minute of play. Felipe finally iced the game in the first minute of stoppage time on follow-up from an initial miss from Di Vaio off the crossbar.

Team Statistics

(Montreal in blue, Toronto in red)

Montreal Impact Player Ratings

Evan Bush 7, Hassoun Camara 6, Heath Pearce 6, Karl Ouimette 6, Wandrille Lefrvre 6, Andres Romero 6, Hernan Bernardello 5, Justin Mapp 5, Patrice Bernier 6, Jack McInerney 7, Marco Di Vaio 8, Felipe Martins 10, Calum Mallace 4, Maxim Tissot NR

Toronto FC Player Ratings

Joe Bendik 1, Doneil Henry 3, Justin Morrow 3, Mark Bloom 3, Steven Caldwell 3, Daniel Lovitz 3, Jeremy Hall 3, Kyle Bekker 2, Alvaro Rey 5, Jermain Defoe 6, Luke Moore 4, Gilberto 3, Jonathan Osorio 4, Dwayne De Rosario 3