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Posted by
Steve Bottjer,
October 25, 2015 |
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Steve Bottjer
On Twitter:
@BottjerRNO
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Toronto FC were in Montreal on Sunday for an end of the season 401 Derby against the Impact, with key playoff positioning on the line for both Canadian clubs. Toronto FC went into this match knowing they could finish anywhere from 2nd to 6th in the table depending on the result of the match and how other league fixtures played out.
After a disappointing loss to the Columbus Crew last weekend, Toronto were going to have to find a way to stop a steamrolling Didier Drogba if they were to have any hope of clinching a home playoff date for the coming week.
TFC Gaffer Greg Vanney made two changes to his starting eleven, with Jonathan Osorio returning to the lineup after missing a match due to concussion symptoms and Jozy Altidore returning to active duty from suspension.
Listen to ESSU:
At last Toronto FC finish 6th
Toronto vs Montreal Impact
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The Opening 45
Overall, Toronto looked the more likely to score in a chippy, physical first half between two teams that don’t really like each other.
Sebastian Giovinco tested Impact keeper Evan Bush early with a dipping shot in the 5th minute that required a diving save.
Toronto came close again just before the half hour mark when Jozy Altidore dropped the ball back to Giovinco, who unleashed a shot from the top of the box that went just inches wide of the net.
Bush came up big again in the 31st minute when Giovinco beat several defenders and delivered a fine cross that Robbie Findley got on the end of, but ultimately saw his header tipped over the cross bar via another fine save from the Impact keeper.
TFC opened the scoring just prior to the half-time whistle when Giovinco delivered a pinpoint cross to an unmarked Altidore in the box, with the U.S. International making no mistake in heading the ball into the back of the Impact net.
The Second Half
It became apparent early on in the second half that this match was going to be a game of two halves, as the Impact thoroughly dominated the second forty-five minutes of play.
The Impact came within inches of an equalizer in the 50th minute when a terrible defensive giveaway by Ahmed Kantari allowed Didier Drogba to hammer a clean shot off the crossbar.
Montreal found an equalizer three minutes later when Ignacio Piatti delivered a fine cross that Drogba scored on via a pretty back heel amidst a discombobulated Reds back line.
The Impact then took the lead one minute later on almost a photo replica of their first goal, as Drogba took advantage of a ball watching Reds defense to put the ball past a helpless Chris Konopka.
Toronto came close to equalizing in the 74th minute on the back of an impressive passing play that ended with Michael Bradley hammering a shot of his own off the crossbar.
The Reds had a last ditch effort to equalize during extra time snuffed out by a fine tackle by Hassoun Camara on Jozy Altidore.
Overall, it is hard to look at Toronto’s loss in this game as anything but disappointing. Once again, TFC were done in by poor defending. With the loss, Toronto fell from 3rd place in the Eastern Conference to the 6th spot and will now start their playoff run on the road against the Impact on Thursday.
Man of the Match
Sebastian Giovinco
The Italian International was Toronto’s best player in a frustrating game for TFC and their supporters. In addition to setting up Altidore’s goal, the Atomic Ant kept the Impact back line on their toes all game and set up a number of quality chances for his teammates.
Overall, the Man of the Match in this game did not wear red, as Didier Drogba was the best player in this match by a wide margin. If not for the crossbar, Drogba would have added to his goal tally and made the final scoreline more akin to previous ends of the regular season by Toronto.
Toronto FC Line-up
12 Joe Bendik
2 Justin Morrow
4 Ahmed Kantari
23 Josh Williams
11 Jackson
21 Jonathan Osorio
8 Benoit Cheyrou
4 Michael Bradley
17 Jozy Altidore
55 Robbie Findley
10 Sebastian Giovinco
Substitutions: Herculez Gomez for Robbie Findley (76’); Collen Warner for Benoit Cheyrou (76’); Luke Moore for Jonathan Osorio (87’).
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