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Toronto FC: Top 10 matches in club history

By Trevor Popoff

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 09: Alex Bono #25 of Toronto FC lifts the Championship Trophy after winning the 2017 MLS Cup Final against the Seattle Sounders at BMO Field on December 9, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 09: Alex Bono #25 of Toronto FC lifts the Championship Trophy after winning the 2017 MLS Cup Final against the Seattle Sounders at BMO Field on December 9, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON- NOVEMBER 30 – The Toronto FC beat the Montreal Impact 5-2 in the second game to win the Eastern Conference Finals and to advance in the MLS Cup Final in Toronto. November 30, 2016. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON- NOVEMBER 30 – The Toronto FC beat the Montreal Impact 5-2 in the second game to win the Eastern Conference Finals and to advance in the MLS Cup Final in Toronto. November 30, 2016. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

4. Toronto FC 5-2 Montreal Impact, November 30, 2016

TFC’s first real playoff run in club history was a long time coming for fans of the embattled club. After defeating the Philadelphia Union in the knockout round at BMO Field and easily dispatching New York City FC 7-0 on aggregate, a chance to play for the MLS Cup was a real possibility for the 2016 Reds. Thus, it seemed fitting that the one opponent standing in their way would be the Montreal Impact.

Immediately, leg one got off to a disastrous start. The lines of the 18-yard box were painted more like those for a 16-yard box, so kickoff was delayed while members of the grounds crew corrected the mistake. Then, within the first 12 minutes, Montreal poured two goals in, putting a serious dent in Toronto’s MLS Cup dreams. It was 3-0 before Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley pulled two goals back for TFC. Still, the tie swung to Toronto with Montreal leading on aggregate.

Leg two got off to a similar start, with former Red Dominic Oduro netting in the 24th minute, giving the Impact the away goal they so heavily coveted. This left Toronto FC with their back firmly against the wall. Down 4-2 on aggregate with just under two-thirds of the match to go, Armando Cooper scored to draw the match level. Then, at the stroke of halftime, Jozy Altidore showed up again to make it 2-1 and tie the aggregate scoreline 4-4, with TFC having the advantage on away goals. Straight out of halftime, however, disaster struck. Ignacio Piatti scored to tie the match, give Montreal the lead on aggregate and bring the two combatants of the 401 derby to the same number of away goals.

At this point, TFC needed a hero. Enter Nick Hagglund. The long-serving defender rose high on a Justin Morrow cross to deliver the goal TFC needed. Bring on extra time. And bring on yet another goal from an unlikely source. He would only score two more goals for Toronto FC in all competitions, but Benoit Cheyrou proved to be the man for the job, putting a brave head on the ball that would send him into TFC lore. Just subbed on for Giovinco, who likely would have never gotten a touch on what ended up being the game-winning cross from Steven Beitashour, Greg Vanney showed his managerial prudence again. Tosaint Ricketts would add another insurance goal later in extra time, as TFC booked their ticket to MLS Cup.

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