There isn’t much coverage of tonight’s Nutrilite Canadian Championship tilt between Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, so, I’ll provide you all with a live blog of the match! TFC are looking for a 2-0 start to this tournament after beating Vancouver last week 1-0.
Check back here about 7:30pm and I’ll have the starting lineups.
Kickoff is set for just after 8:00pm from BMO Field.
6:50 — Just arrived at BMO. Going to throw up game 7 of the Caps-Penguins on the good ole laptop before tonight’s tilt down by the lake begins. Starting lineups will be in at 7:30pm. Get you the details when they become available.
7:15 — Starting Lineups have arrived a tad earlier. Toronto FC make two changes from the side that starting last Saturday at D.C United. Chat Barrett and Kevin Harmse come out in favour of Carl Robinson and Pablo Vitti. At first glance, it appears TFC Head Coach Chris Cummins will go with a 3-5-2 formation.
Toronto FC: Frei, Attakora-Gyan, Velez, Brennan, Wynne, Serioux, Cronin, Robinson, Guevara, De Rosario, Vitti.
Montreal: Jordan, Sakuda, Braz, Pizzolitto, Testo, Grande, Placentino, Brown, Gjersten, Atte-Oudeyi, Joqueviel.
7:40 — About 40 Montreal fans have made the trip to Toronto tonight. Good on them. They’ve been sectioned off in the north-eastern most part of the stadium, but are dawning their blue flags with plenty of pride.
8:02 — Both teams have made there way onto the pitch. It’s National Anthem time!
8:07 — We have kickoff!!! First half is underway.
2′ TFC with some early possession. Dwayne De Rosario with a good volley inside the Montreal box. Matt Jordan makes the save. Chris Cummins going with a 4-3-3, playing Marvell Wynne as a right forward. Nana Attakora will take care of the right side of defense.
6′ Sam Cronin is sprung in on a partial break, but the Impact manage to clear the danger.
9′ Dwayne De Rosario comes close to giving TFC the early lead, watching his left-footed volley hit the outside netting. Montreal can’t get much of anything going early on.
10′ Quality chance for the Impact goes wasting. Roberto Brown lays off a nice header for David Testo who had plenty of time to strike on goal but hit his shot well over Stefan Frei’s net.
12′ Corner kick for TFC. The Reds go short, Guevara sends it into Vitti who flicks the ball onto De Rosario, but nothing is made of the opportunity.
13′ Some hard work from Pablo Vitti leads up to a TFC free kick. Vitti was taken down on the left-side, just outside of the Montreal box. Guevara swings in the free kick but hits it hard and curls out for a Montreal goal kick.
16′ Toronto FC are forced to make their first change early in the game. Marvell Wynne exits for Chad Barrett. We suspect Wynne has come down with an injury. Barrett’s first touch leads to an opportunity for Pablo Vitti who strikes on goal, but it’s well handled by Jordan.
20′ Some tremendous work from Pablo Vitti who is showcasing his talent tonight. Vitti gets taken down about 30 yards from goal. Guevara’s free kick finds the head of De Rosario, but it’s up and out for a goal kick.
21′ TFC hit the post! Sam Cronin gets the ball and avoids a few defenders, chipping the ball over Matt Jordan but it comes in contact with the woodwork. Lovely play from Cronin who’s unlikely to open the scoring tonight.
22′ Yellow card for Montreal midfielder David Testo. He took down Amado Guevara at about midfield. Good call by the ref.
27′ Another post hit by TFC! De Rosario has tons of space to rocket a shot that hits the outside of the right goalpost. Toronto FC come close once again.
29′ On the counter-attack, Montreal appear to have scored the first goal tonight when Rocco Placentino rockets his shot past Stefan Frei, however, the linesman has his flag up for offside. Placentino took his pass in an offside position and we’re still scoreless.
33′ Some nice work from Guevara, Cronin and De Rosario lead to another chance for TFC. Cronin almost eluded three defenders but was unable to strike on target. The loose ball lands on the foot of De Rosario who sails his shot high and out of play.
35′ Toronto FC 1-0 Montreal. Jim Brennan sends in a ball from the left which goes to Chad Barrett, who with the slightest of touches, lifts the ball, turns and volley’s it past Matt Jordan from 25 yards out. TFC fans are singing as their side have a much deserved lead.
42′ TFC keep pressing after taking the lead. Some good work from De Rosario opens up space for Guevara who tries curling his shot around Jordan, but can’t do it. It’s been a dominant first half by the home side.
44′ Chad Barrett goes in on the right and gets clearly fouled while striking on target in the box. Instead, the referee signals a free-kick for TFC, saying that Barrett had his jersey tugged outside the box. After some pushing and shoving in the Montreal wall, Jim Brennan’s left-footed strike hits the wall and falls into Jordan’s hands.
Halftime! First half was dominated by TFC, who out-shot Montreal 10-1. Shots on goal favour TFC 5-0. Stefan Frei hasn’t had much to do tonight.
Just got an update from Toronto FC Director of Medial Relations Michelle Lissel that Marvell Wynne left the game with a hamstring injury. Chris Cummins subbed him out for precautionary reasons. We’ll get more on the injury after the game when speaking with Cummins.
Second Half is underway! No changes to either side.
47′ TFC start where they left off as a low right-footed shot from Pablo Vitti skims wide left of Matt Jordan’s net.
49′ A hard strike on the right side by Barrett is punched away by Jordan. De Rosario then shows of some skills getting around a few Impact members at the south-east corner flag. So cheeky.
51′ Barrett’s cross from the right is headed away for a TFC corner. Guevara sends it in and finds Marco Velez at the back post who heada the ball off the post, off Jordan’s back and out of touch. Should have been a corner kick but the ref points for a goal kick.
57′ Some real nice ball movement from Toronto FC, who stay patient, look for the open space and then attack. Montreal need to close down much better on the ball for a chance to break on the counterattack.
63′ Montreal substitution. Eddy Sebrango comes in for Kevin Sakuda.
64′ Placentino sends Testo clear on the left side, but his cross in finds nobody for a TFC goal kick. There’s been a lot of that tonight from the visitors.
66′ Montreal record their first shot on goal over an hour into the match. Frei does well to save Gjersten’s shot from 30 yards out.
69′ Yellow card for Jim Brennan. There was some more pushing and shoving inside TFC’s box before a Montreal corner kick was taken. The Impact come close to tying things up but Guevara clears from the line!
70′ Red card for David Testo who picks up his second yellow for a fierce tackle on Sam Cronin. The medical staff takes a quick look at Cronin who appears to be fine. Montreal will now look to tie this game up, down a man.
73′ Montreal substitution. Felix Brilliant replaces Joey Gjersten.
74′ Toronto FC substitution. Kevin Harmse replaces De Rosario. Adam Braz is called for a handball 30 yards outside the Montreal box. Guevara swings in the freekick but it goes right into Jordan’s hands.
75′ Montreal substitution. Simon Gatti replaces Roberto Brown. That’s Montreal’s final sub.
77′ A Montreal turnover leads to a TFC 2-on-1. Barrett takes the ball into the box, laying off for Amado Guevara who’s shot is saved well by Jordan.
79′ Chad Barrett comes close to notching his second goal of the game, but his low shot from the left slides past the right post.
83′ Barrett beats the onside trap, goes in alone on Matt Jordan but tries to deke him out instead of fire on target. Jordan sticks out his right hand and makes the save. What a chance wasted away by Barrett.
88′ Toronto FC make their final substitution. Fuad Ibrahim replaces Amado Guevara.
89′ Montreal are pressing a bit here in the final stages, looking for the equalizer. TFC don’t appear ready to give up this lead.
90′ 3 minutes of extra time, indicated by the fourth official. Barrett has yet another chance to bury this game, but his shot deflects out for a TFC corner.
Fulltime! The referee blows his whistle, indicating an end to tonight’s festivities. Toronto FC beat Montreal 1-0 and improve to 2-0 during this year’s Nutrilite Canadian Championship. TFC are now unbeaten in six games heading into Saturday’s clash with the Chicago Fire at BMO Field.
– Alex Seixeiro
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