[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em-BaPAH09o]
One game, 100 words (or less): In theory, Montréal and Toronto should be rivals, but Saturday’s game at Stade Saputo never captured a derby’s intensity. Conceding early to Gilberto, the Impact looked like a team in flux, one facing a team trying to rebound from mid-week disappointment. When Luke Moore converted early in the second half, that rebound was assured, with Toronto FC going on to claim full points in Quebec, 2-0.
Goals
Montréal: None
Toronto: Gilberto 11′, Moore 54′
Three moments that mattered
11′ – Too easy for Toronto – As the TSN team identified early, Michael Bradley was seeing too much time on the ball, something that came back to bite Montréal after 10 minute. Swinging a ball from the top of the box to the right flank, the U.S. international found Dominic Oduro, who played the ball back toward the spot for Gilberto. With the Impact defenders slow to react, the Reds’ striker had the time he ended to put his team up.
54′ – Again, too easy – It was a totally different kind of goal, but still one Montréal could have prevented. With the ball at the edge of his team’s defensive third, Bradley had the time to play a majestic long through ball behind Montréal left back, Krzysztof Krol:
Oduro’s speed allowed the Toronto midfielder to go in alone on goal, with his pass across the box to Moore giving his teammate an empty net goal.
87′ – Never gonna get it (never gonna get it) – Montréal almost ruined Joe Bendik’s clean sheet, with a 86th minute header from Andrés Romero drawing cheers from a crowd deceived into thinking the ball had gone in. Seconds later, Michael Bradley couldn’t catch up to a streaking Felipe Martins, whose try from just outside the six-yard box was blocked by Bendik. A late goal could have finally generated some excitement; ultimately; this was Toronto’s day.
Lineups
Montréal: Troy Perkins, Hassoun Camara, Futty Danso (Felipe Martins 51′), Matteo Ferrari, Krzysztof Krol; Justin Mapp (Dilly Duka 74′), Patrice Bernier, Eric Miller, Andrés Romero; Marco Di Vaio, Jack McInerney (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 65′)
Toronto: Joe Bendik; Warren Creavalle, Nick Hagglund, Doneil Henry, Justin Morrow; Dominic Oduro (Jackson 74′), Michael Bradley, Collen Warner (Kyle Bekker 84′), Jonathan Osorio; Gilberto (Daniel Lovitz 90′), Luke Moore
Three lessons going forward
1. Business of the rebound – At this point, winning in Montréal is almost obligatory, but coming off their mid-week disappointment, the Reds were facing that expectation along with the need to bounce back. Their response was an encouraging one, a result that provided them with much-needed points in the East’s playoff race.
2. Even without Defoe – That the team rebounded without Jermain Defoe is another reason to be encouraged. Jackson, so good along Toronto’s left of late, was also held back, as was Bradley Orr. For a team that finished near the bottom of last year’s Eastern Conference, Toronto’s required an enviable amount of depth.
3. Montréal adrift – With six losses in a row, the Impact appear done. Maybe Frank Klopas can get his team focused on Champions League (starting this week), but unable to get home points against Portland or Toronto, the Impact aren’t even ready for a spoilers’ role.
Where this leaves them:
- Toronto is temporarily alone in third, the team’s 29 point leaving it three clear of Columbus and New England.
- Montréal is still last, five points away from the league’s next-worst team (Houston).
