Montreal Impact Officially End Toronto FC’s Playoff Dreams (VIDEO)
Saturday afternoon saw two Canadian rivals square off in what was Toronto FC’s final home game of the season. A campaign that had started off with so much hope and promise, ends next week like every other season in franchise history, without a playoff berth. Two wins to close out the season, followed by two losses from the Crew would see Toronto earn their first ever playoff spot, but fans weren’t holding out much hope on Saturday, and the Montreal Impact made sure that didn’t happen.
Despite it likely being the final home match of the season, with playoff implications still on the line, and against a bitter rival, tickets were easy to come by on game day outside of BMO Field for Impact fans to grab. Even though the Impact were sitting on the least amount of points in all of Major League Soccer, it didn’t stop their fans from making the trek West on the 401 to take in the game Saturday afternoon.
It was revealed Friday at training that Jermain Defoe had aggravated his groin injury and would not be available for the Reds on Saturday, in what would likely be his last match at BMO Field. Michael Bradley was also absent from Saturday’s lineup as he was suspended from the yellow card he picked up against the Red Bulls last weekend.
Marco Di Vaio was in the lineup for Montreal in the penultimate regular season match of his career, but did not enter the game until the 79th minute.
The game kicked off with both teams feeling each other out and trying to find their feet, with neither one really finding much success. However, in the 20th minute, unlikely hero, Warren Creavalle, found the opener for the home side to give them the 1-0 lead. Creavalle curled one past Impact keeper, Evan Bush.
Montreal did well to try and get back into the game, with Jack McInerney looking dangerous throughout the first half. He nearly leveled things up at BMO Field in the 27th minute, but he fired his shot just wide. Although, it wouldn’t be too long before Montreal did equalize through a fantastic goal from Felipe Martins.
Andres Romero provide Martins with a lovely pass and Martins just cracked it from just outside the box to send the Impact fans on hand into a frenzy. Joe Bendik stood no chance at stopping the ball as it went right into the top corner of the net.
The game went into halftime with the two rivals tied at 1 and the home side desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive.
McInerney nearly ended the dream for Toronto FC five minutes after the second half kicked off, as Martins sent him alone on Bendik, but the Montreal Impact striker was only able to rattle his shot off the crossbar. Even after McInerney’s miss, the visitors were all over Toronto for the first fifteen minutes after the break, and if one didn’t know any better, they’d think it was Montreal fighting for their playoff lives.
Hometown boys, Dwayne De Rosario and Kyle Bekker, were both brought on during the second half to try and salvage the season for Toronto FC. It seemed to have worked in the 81st when Toronto FC put one past Bush’s net in the 8oth, but it Steven Caldwell was called on the foul and the goal was called off.
Toronto was generously handed another lifeline from referee Baldomero Toledo in the 82nd minute, when Heath Pearce was given a straight red after he took down a streaking Dominic Oduro.
Being a man up for the final eight minutes of the match was not enough for Toronto, as the game, much like the season, ended in more disappointmen, but not in excitement.Before the match was over, Toledo also sent Toronto’s Jonathan Osorio and Montreal’s Hassoun Camara, off the pitch.
With the draw against Montreal, Toronto have been officially eliminated from the playoffs, and to make matters worse, it was their arch rivals who put the final nail in the coffin. Even though Montreal are in last place, their fans still went home with big smiles on their faces as they saw the look of disbelief in the home fans’ eyes.
The Montreal Impact will now travel to New York to take on the Red Bulls in CONCACAF Champions League action on Wednesday evening, before ending their MLS season and Marco Di Vaio’s career, at home against D.C. United. Toronto FC will end their campaign next week in New England against the Revolution.
Starting Lineups:
Toronto FC: Bendik, Bloom (Oduro 80′), Morrow, Caldwell, Henry, Jackson, Creavalle (De Rosario 57′), Warner (Bekker 68′), Osorio, Gilberto, Moore
Montreal Impact: Bush, Camara, Miller, Pearce, Ferrari, Martins, Duka (Issey 73′), Bernier, Mallace, Romero (Tissot 82′), McInerney (Di Vaio 79′)