A goal from Jozy Altidore right at the death denied CF Montréal a vital three points and gave Toronto FC a 1-1 draw with their Canadian Classique rivals at BMO Field on Saturday.
Altidore beat Montréal goalkeeper James Pantemis to his near post with a free kick in the final minute of stoppage time to give the BMO Field crowd a rare moment of joy this season and take a crucial two points away from their rivals in the race for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
A Sunusi Ibrahim goal 10 minutes in the second half and a series of spectacular saves from Pantemis had looked to have given Montréal a first win in three to keep them above the playoff line. Instead, its three straight draws from Wilfried Nany's crew and takes them below the line with three games remaining.
While the opening half finished goalless, it wasn't for the lack of chances. For Montréal, Brault-Guillard blasted an early opportunity wide of the near post from a tight angle, while Ibrahim looked to have manufactured a clear opening after a neat turn of Michael Bradley but the veteran TFC midfielder got back to deny him a clear strike at goal.
The best of the chances, though, came at the other end and all fell the way of Jacob Shaffelburg. On all three occasions, though, the young Canadian forward failed to provide the finishing tough, twice being thwarted by smart blocks from Montréal goalkeeper James Pantemis after through balls put him in on goal, and then heading wide of the target with the goal at his mercy following an inch-perfect cross from Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty.
Toronto FC interim coach Javier Perez looked for some attacking inspiration when brining 2020 MLS MVP Alejandro Pozuelo on at halftime. But it couldn't stop Ibrahim breaking the deadlock to put the visitors in front.
So Perez then turned to another of his Designated Players, Altidore from the bench. It looked like a move that would pay swift dividends when Altidore found himself unmarked in the six-yard box for a clear header no 71 minutes. But the USMNT international's effort was just too close to the Montreal 'keeper, giving Pantemis the opportunity to make a spectacular one-handed save.
When Altidore smashed another shot straight at Pantemis at the start of stoppage time, it looked like that that would be that. Instead the veteran goal scorer had one more trick up his sleeve to supply a dramatic finale.
