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Posted by
Steve Bottjer,
May 13, 2015 |
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Steve Bottjer
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@BottjerRNO
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The Montreal Impact took a slight lead into their second leg of their Canadian Championship semifinal against Toronto FC at BMO Field on Wednesday. Impact Head Coach Frank Klopas shuffled his lineup a bit, with striker Kenny Cooper getting his first start in a Montreal kit and Designated Player Ignacio Piatti starting this fixture on the bench.
After a disappointing performance in their home opener on Sunday, Toronto FC were both looking to bounce back at home and overcome an Impact side that defeated them 1-0 a week ago in Montreal. TFC Head Coach Greg Vanney fielded a much stronger lineup than he did in the first leg, with the Reds fielding all three of the team’s Designated Players. Vanney also changed up Toronto’s formation, with the Reds going with an attack-minded diamond formation with Bradley at the top in offensive role and Cheyrou shielding the back four.
The Opening 45
Toronto came out of the gate looking very much like a side intent on imposing their will on their opponents. The Reds moved the ball exceptionally well and the team played with an energy and passion that had been lacking against Houston a few days back.
With Toronto delivering plenty of fine link-up play, it was the Impact that engineered the first scoring opportunity in the 11th minute, with Dilly Duke setting up Kenny Cooper for a shot from in close that was ultimately stoned by Konopka.
The Impact came close again in the 20th minute when Canadian International Maxim Tissot delivered an excellent cross that Cooper headed wide of the net.
The Reds got themselves back into the game and series in the 22nd minute when Giovinco delivered a fine pass to Altidore, with the U.S. International delivering a clinical finish to bury the ball in the back of the net.
With the series all tied up on aggregate, Montreal quickly regained the lead with an away goal in the 25th minute, as Cooper took advantage of some shoddy defending by Toronto to tip in a shot delivered by midfielder Callum Mallace.
The Second Half
Toronto continued to play a very aggressive game in the second half, with the Reds know they were going to have to take the game to the Impact in order to have any chance of advancing in the tournament.
The Reds came close in the 51st minute when Jonathan Osorio had a glorious chance unmarked inside the Impact box but delivered his shot right at Montreal keeper Eric Kronberg.
TFC broke through and took the lead in the game in the 56th minute on the back of a top class pass by Bradley to Altidore, who cut the ball back to Cheyrou, with the Frenchman making no mistake in slotting the ball into the Impact net.
The Reds took the lead on aggregate in the 58th minute when Altidore sent in Giovinco on a play in which the Italian delivered a clinical finish to beat Kronberg inside the right post.
With Toronto looking like they were cruising, the Impact stunned the crowd by once again taking advantage of some slack defending by the Reds that allowed Dominic Oduro to head in a fine cross from Eric Miller.
That goal gave the Impact the lead on aggregate due to their away goals, as Montreal ultimately played out the match and got the better of Toronto once again. Montreal now moves on the Canadian Championship Final to be played in August.
For Toronto, the series defeat will be another bitter pill for the squad, as the Reds looked much more proactive and dominant on the attack compared to their home opener on Sunday. With the team again being let down by very slack defending in central defense, it appears that for all the flash, finish and tenacity that Giovinco, Altidore and Bradley bring to the team, the Reds are still hamstrung by the club’s inability to follow the rule that good clubs are built on the basis of a strong and rock solid central defense.
Man of the Match
Jozy Altidore
With an excellent work rate and a goal and two assists to his credit, Altidore was Toronto’s Man of the Match. The U.S. International linked up exceptionally well with Giovinco, Bradley and Cheyrou, with all three of those players delivering fine performances of their own. Altidore delivered a fine performance in which he both finished and set up his teammates while consistently being a handful for the Impact to handle.
Dominic Oduro
With an absolutely massive goal, ex-TFC forward Dominic Oduro was the Impact’s Man of the Match. The lightning quick attacker actually had a relatively quiet game until the final minutes of the match, but MLS veteran delivered an absolute dagger blow to a Reds side that looked like it was cruising towards moving on to the final round of the tournament.
Toronto FC Line-up
1 Chris Konopka
38 Justin Morrow
15 Eriq Zavaleta
24 Damien Perquis
5 Ashtone Morgan
4 Michael Bradley
26 Collen Warner
8 Benoit Cheyrou
10 Sebastian Giovinco
21 Jonathan Osorio
17 Jozy Altidore
Substitutions: Warren Creavalle for Jonathan Osorio (81); Luke Moore for Jozy Altidore (81) Nick Hagglund for Justin Morrow (89).
Montreal Impact Line-up
22 Eric Kronberg
3 Eric Miller
23 Laurent Ciman
55 Wandrille Lefèvre
51 Maxim Tissot
8 Patrice Bernier
16 Calum Mallace
11 Dilly Duka
29 Eric Alexander
7 Dominic Oduro
13 Kenny Cooper
Substitutions: Jack McInerney for Kenny Cooper (32); Andres Romero for Dilly Duka (64); Ignacio Piatti for Callum Mallace (68).
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