MONTREAL – The Impact came out on top in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Championship this Tuesday night in front of a capacity crowd of 61,004 at the Olympic Stadium, winning 3-2 against Toronto FC. Dominic Oduro, Matteo Mancosu and Ambroise Oyongo scored Montreal’s goals, while Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley replied for the visitors.
The Bleu-blanc-noir thus holds a one-goal advantage ahead of the return leg of this Conference Championship series, which will take place at Toronto’s BMO Field on Wednesday, November 30, at 7pm (RDS, TSN, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). An Impact win or draw would clinch a spot in MLS Cup.
“I would like to thank all the supporters that came here, as there were magnificent,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We started the game very well and then scored that third goal. We then conceded after a lapse in concentration, but for us, nothing changes. We have to win, and that is our mentality.”
Scintillating start for Montreal
Despite the stakes and the nerves, both teams played went at each other early on. Toronto created the first occasion on a fourth-minute free kick, but Sebastian Giovinco’s shot flew over the net.
The Bleu-blanc-noir took the lead 10 minutes in. From the backline, Hassoun Camara played the ball in the middle to Patrice Bernier, who slipped a wonderful pass in behind the Toronto defence for Oduro. The right winger took a touch in the area before punishing goalkeeper Clint Irwin with a low shot to score his first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs goal.
The 114 decibels measured at the Olympic Park had barely subsided when Mancosu added a second for Montreal. After he recovered the ball by the TFC penalty area, Oduro lifted it over Steven Beitashour for Piatti, who put in a cross. Mancosu burst through the Toronto defence, beating Irwin with a violent first-time strike at the 12th minute.
At the other end, goalkeeper Evan Bush showed his qualities with a couple of well-timed interventions. In the 36th minute, for example, Justin Morrow challenged Camara who tracked him well, but Morrow managed a tricky strike that Bush still caught.
“We won the game,” said Bush. “Sure, 3-0 would have been a dream scenario, but we take this. They still have to come and beat us in Toronto. Any advantage is an advantage. It’s going to be a high-energy, high-excitement game there, and it’s all going to be about the mentality and the mindset.”
Eight minutes after the break, the Impact increased its lead to three. Oyongo, moving inside, sprang onto a Bernier pass, surprising Giovinco who hoped to push forward again. Oyongo ran down the middle on the counter, with Mancosu and Oduro stretching the Toronto defence. Alone in front of Drew Moor, Oyongo scored his first goal in 2016 with a left-footed shot that caught Irwin, who dived left to no avail.
But the visitors scored two goals in a five-minute stretch starting in the 69th minute. On a messy sequence in the Montreal area, Tosaint Ricketts first hit the post. Beitashour then played it back to Giovinco, who promptly crossed for Altidore. The striker made it 3-1 with a header.
Altidore was also involved in Toronto’s second. After he pushed Víctor Cabrera in the area, Altidore was still allowed to play a square pass to Ricketts, who fed Bradley behind him. Bradley then scored with a shot from distance.
“If you want to win that MLS Cup, you have to show the other team what kind of team that you are, and that’s what we did tonight: we are set up in such a way that we can get a result,” said Dominic Oduro. “We made some mistakes, and Toronto made us pay, but this is not over. I still believe that we play well and that we can get the job done there.”
The Impact came close to making it 4-2 in the 89th minute as Didier Drogba picked up a long throw by Oyongo. His shot, however, nearly missed to Irwin’s right.
Next game
The return leg of the Eastern Conference Championship will be played at Toronto’s BMO Field on Wednesday, November 30, at 7pm (RDS, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). The Eastern Conference champion will then move on to MLS Cup, which is scheduled for December 10 at 8pm at the home of the finalist with the most regular season points – the final would thus take place at Colorado Rapids or at Seattle Sounders FC, should the Impact reach it.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Hassoun Camara (Donny Toia 81’), Víctor Cabrera, Laurent Ciman, Ambroise Oyongo; M-Dominic Oduro, Hernán Bernardello, Marco Donadel, Patrice Bernier (Johan Venegas 87’), Ignacio Piatti; F-Matteo Mancosu (Didier Drogba 71’)
Subs not used – GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Wandrille Lefèvre; M-Calum Mallace, Harry Shipp
TOR – GK-Clint Irwin; D-Eriq Zavaleta, Drew Moor, Nick Hagglund; M-Steven Beitashour (Mark Bloom 90’ + 2’), Armando Cooper (Will Johnson 57’), Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio (Tosaint Ricketts 57’); F-Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco
Subs not used – GK-Alex Bono; D-Josh Williams; M-Benoît Cheyrou; F-Tsubasa Endoh
GOALS
MTL – Oduro (Bernier) 10’
MTL – Mancosu (Piatti, Oduro) 12’
MTL – Oyongo (Bernier) 53’
TOR – Altidore (Giovinco, Beitashour)
TOR – Bradley (Ricketts, Altidore)
