MLS Canadian Roundup: Clinched!
All three Canadian clubs are going to the MLS Cup Playoffs. This will be the first time Major League Soccer will have all three Canadian clubs in the playoffs at the same time.
Dramatic victories for Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact secured late playoff berths this week, while the Whitecaps, who are safely into the postseason, continue to struggle. Let’s take a look at what happened.
Toronto FC 2-1 New York Red Bulls
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Toronto FC clinched a playoff berth for the first time in club history on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls at BMO Field in Toronto. Herculez Gomez scored for Toronto and Toronto FC superstar Sebastian Giovinco had the winner in that match. Canadian midfielder Jonathan Osorio grabbed an assist on the winner as well.
Toronto FC 0-2 Columbus Crew
With emotions still running high, the club had to host the Columbus Crew, a side that was also looking to join Toronto in the playoffs, three days later.
A 40th-minute marker from Ethan Finlay and a last-minute goal from Federico Higuain led the Crew to a 2-0 victory and secured Columbus’ place in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs as well.
Toronto was riding a four-game winning streak going into the contest, but could not find a way to put the ball into the back of the net. Goalkeeper Steve Clark played well for Columbus en route to the victory.
Fourth-place Toronto FC (15W-14L-4D) will travel to Montreal to visit the fifth-place Montreal Impact on Sunday to close out the season in a match with significant playoff positioning on the line.
Montreal Impact 1-0 New England Revolution
The Montreal Impact clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday night in Foxborough, Mass. after defeating the Revolution 1-0.
A great individual effort from Impact midfielder Ignacio Piatti led to Montreal’s only goal of the match in the 55th minute. Goalkeeper Evan Bush also made two saves for the clean sheet.
The Impact (14W-13L-6D) currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and can potentially move up a few spots with a victory over Toronto FC on Sunday.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0-2 FC Dallas
The Vancouver Whitecaps were already safely secured in the postseason when they met FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Texas. However, the club suffered another setback with a 2-0 loss on Wednesday night.
Goals from midfielders Michael Barrios and Mauro Diaz pushed FC Dallas on top and helped the first-place club inch closer to the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
The Whitecaps haven’t won a Major League Soccer match since Sept. 9 against the Colorado Rapids and things aren’t looking good for the club that was also once in contention for the Supporters’ Shield not too long ago.
Head coach Carl Robinson and his side are in need of a morale boost before the playoffs begin.
The Whitecaps (15W-13L-5D) have fallen to third in the Western Conference with the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City hot on Vancouver’s heels.
The ‘Caps have a CONCACAF Champions League match against C.D. Olimpia on Thursday and then the Whitecaps will look to boost their momentum when the club finishes off the MLS regular season against the Houston Dynamo in Vancouver on Sunday.
Canadian Player Spotlight: Cyle Larin
Orlando City SC striker and rookie Cyle Larin scored two goals in his club’s 2-1 victory over New York City FC on Friday.
The Brampton, Ont. native already broke the MLS rookie scoring record a few weeks back and added to his goal count with a brace in the second half against New York City. Larin’s two goals now move the rookie scoring record to 17.
Next: Orlando City SC documentary set to debut at Orlando Film Festival