Montreal Impact vs Toronto FC: Key Moments
Toronto FC find a late equalizer on the road as they draw 2-2 with the Montreal Impact as the home team clinches a playoff spot with the result.
This meeting between two playoff bound teams in the Eastern Conference didn’t disappoint and featured plenty of action. The Canadian clash between the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC ended with each side leaving with one point after the 2-2 draw. The result allowed Montreal to clinch a playoff spot with only one week left in the season. Ignacio Piatti shined but a late equalizer from Toronto ruined the joy of three points for the Impact.
TFC were a bit unlucky not to score more than two goals in this one as they had two shots ricochet off the post. Montreal made the most of their chances and always looked like the more dangerous team in the game. They were without Didier Drogba but they Piatti was their hero. Sebastian Giovinco also returned to the Starting XI for Toronto.
The Impact are now 11W-10L-12D on the season with 45 total points which is good enough for the fifth seed in the East. Toronto improved to 13W-9L-11D on the year but the result will keep them out of the top two spots in their conference. They could still steal the second seed next week from New York City FC but they missed their opportunity this week.
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Montreal Get Out to an Early Lead
The Impact were flying from the start of the match and they found their first goal in the 19′ minute. The score came from Ignacio Piatti when he beautifully struck a shot into the corner of the net. this was Nacho’s 16th goal of the season but he wasn’t done just yet.
Altidore Gets One Back For TFC
Even though Toronto didn’t have their best game going forward, they did manage to score a bit of a lucky goal after halftime. Jozy Altidore found the back of the net after a few lucky touches from inside the box in the 51′ minute. The score was tied up at 1-1 with Altidore’s 10th goal on the year.
Piatti Scores From the Spot
The scoreline was only tied for a few moments because in the 55′ minute, Montreal were awarded a penalty. Impact striker, Matteo Mancosu, went down fairly easily when Justin Morrow committed a challenge on him inside the penalty box. The ref awarded the penalty and Ignacio Piatti buried it home from the spot for his 17th goal on the season. The brace for Nacho gave his side a 2-1 lead,
Toronto Find a Late Equalizer
TFC coach, Greg Vanney, brought on Tosaint Rickitts as a substitute in the 78′ minute. His impact was immediate as he scored a late equalizer in the 86′ minute to level things at two goals apiece. The goal came after Sebastian Giovinco’s cross was chested down by Altidore and the ball bounced right to Ricketts who didn’t miss his close range attempt.
Montreal will be on the road next week when they take on the New England Revolution in an important match that will shape the playoff picture in the East. Toronto FC will return home to face off against the Chicago Fire on October 23rd. Each game will be the last for both teams in the 2016 MLS regular season.