MLS Canadian Roundup: Win Some, Lose Some
Week 31 of Major League Soccer was a mix of triumph, disappointment and stalemate for the Canadian clubs.
Toronto FC defeated the Philadelphia Union to edge closer to post-season glory However, the Montreal Impact fell to a desperate Orlando City SC side with three massive points on the line and the Vancouver Whitecaps drew the San Jose Earthquakes with a goal apiece.
More from CF Montreal
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- CF Montréal vs Chicago Fire match preview – Last chance saloon
- Grade the Trade: Rudy Camacho’s move to Columbus
- Montreal signs defender Fernando Álvarez from Pachuca
Things keep going right for Toronto FC, so let’s start there.
Toronto FC 3-1 Philadelphia Union
Toronto FC played the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at BMO Field looking for a third straight home win.
Let’s jump to the 28th minute, where, off a free kick, Toronto FC superstar Sebastian Giovinco sent a ball towards goal. What happened next was a bit of luck coupled with a little bit of wizardry.
The ball took an enormous deflection off of the subsequent Union wall in front and went soaring into the air before losing trajectory and falling in the net at the far post to make it 1-0 for the hosts.
Giovinco celebrated his 21st tally of the season by stirring an imaginary pot. He almost scored again in the 43rd minute off a similar free kick, but Union goalkeeper Andre Blake got just enough of the ball to keep it out.
Skip to the second half, TFC would double the lead when forward Jozy Altodore scored his 12th of the season after showing great control absorbing a Marky Delgado cross before sending the ball into the net.
However, three minutes later in the 66th minute, Union defender and Canadian countryman Steven Vitoria would cut the lead in half with a header off a free kick from midfielder Cristian Maidana. Vitoria, the Toronto-born, sent a header into the top corner to score in his hometown.
Canadians were making a lot of noise in this game. One minute into stoppage time, Toronto FC midfielder and Canadian Jonathan Osorio would send a ball across the Union box before Union defender Richie Marquez would surrender an own goal on the play to make it 3-1 for Toronto.
That’s where the game would end as Toronto FC claimed a third straight home victory and moved even closer to a potential playoff berth. Toronto currently sits in fifth place with a four-point cushion in the Eastern Conference standings with three games remaining. The club hosts the New York Red Bulls next on October 14th at BMO Field.
Montreal Impact 1-2 Orlando City SC
In this pivotal clash, two clubs fighting for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference met with animosity and direness as Orlando City SC hosted the Montreal Impact at the Citrus Bowl.
Fresh off breaking the MLS rookie scoring record, Canadian forward Cyle Larin would make it 1-0 for Orlando City in the 33rd minute when his yellow boots smashed the ball into the net from distance.
From just outside the box, Larin sent a rocket toward the net that skipped out of the hands of Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush.
In the 43rd minute, Impact midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker would cross the ball towards the Orlando City net and forward Dominic Oduro would kick the ball free and into the back of the net to level the scoring.
This goal brought a little bit of controversy as it looked as if Orlando City ‘keeper Tally Hall had control of the ball before Oduro kicked it free. Nevertheless, the goal stood and Montreal found a way back into the match.
That is, until the 80th minute, when defender Seb Hines would score a very important goal for Orlando City to make in 2-1. It was his first goal with the club and it could not have come at a better time for the Lions.
Orlando City is now only one point back of the Impact for that final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. However, Montreal has two games in hand on Orlando City. Nevertheless, it is sure to be an exciting race to the finish.
The Impact hit the road next to meet the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes
The Vancouver Whitecaps played the San Jose Earthquakes to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at Avaya Stadium in San Jose.
The Whitecaps came pressing for the first goal and had multiple dangerous chances, but they could not get the ball by Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham through the early stages of the match.
However, in the 39th minute, Whitecaps midfielder Cristian Techera would finally break the deadlock with a brilliant goal. The feisty 5-foot-2 Uruguayan would fake out two San Jose defenders before chipping the ball up and over Bingham for a goal. There was a slight deflection of the ball on the way in that caused it to lift and drop, but regardless, it was a great goal by Techera.
Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski would level the score in the 62nd minute after Whitecaps’ goalkeeper David Ousted fumbled a save. Wondolowski was there to pounce on the rebound.
The Whitecaps had a glorious chance in stoppage time to take the lead when Manneh and Techera came sprinting down the pitch towards goal. The two ‘Caps players were left all alone in the San Jose end, but Bingham came out to make a successful challenge.
The Whitecaps (15W-12L-4D) have slipped to third in the Western Conference but are only two points back of the leading Los Angeles Galaxy and one point back of FC Dallas for second.
The Whitecaps play FC Dallas twice in the next two weeks in two absolutely crucial games as both clubs eye top spot in the Western Conference. First, the Whitecaps host FC Dallas at BC Place on Wednesday. Then, the ‘Caps visit Toyota Stadium to meet FC Dallas on Oct. 14.
Canadian Spotlight Player(s): Cyle Larin, Steven Vitoria and Jonathan Osorio
As mentioned above, both Larin and Vitoria scored for their clubs and both had great games. Along with this, though credited as a Philadelphia Union own goal, Toronto FC midfielder Jonathan Osorio’s work to get Toronto’s third goal is worthy of praise as well as he also had a great game for the Reds.
Next: Didier Drogba - Making the right impact for the Impact