Toronto FC (3-4-0, 3rd place in Eastern Conference, MLS) at L’Impact de Montreal (2-1-1, 2nd place, NASL Conference, U.S.S.F. Second Division), Wednesday at 8 p.m.
All time record: Toronto leads 4W-1D-0L
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What’s at Stake?
A Toronto win would give the defending NCC champions a commanding five-point lead over both Montreal and Vancouver. The showdown between the two rivals also begins a three-game road trip that will also take the Reds to Los Angeles and Vancouver over the next seven days. Given that schedule, it was important for them to beat Chicago last Saturday at home and they convincingly did just that to vault into third place in MLS’s Eastern Conference. The offense, which came under fire earlier in the season for a lack of scoring, broke out with three goals in the second half en route to a 4-1 win.
With only one point in two NCC games and just two remaining, this is a must-win game for Montreal. Luckily, the 2008 NCC champion is coming into the game in the midst of a three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) that includes a draw at Vancouver in the second NCC game last Wednesday. The task will be difficult as Montreal will be without strikers Reda Agourram and Roberto Brown. Agourram received a red card against Vancouver and was suspended by the Canadian Soccer Association for an additional game, while Brown is serving the second game of a two-game suspension for striking Toronto defender Nick Garcia when the two teams met April 28 in Toronto.
Last Meeting
Toronto emerged with a 2-0 win over its Highway 401 rivals April 28 in a physical game that kicked of the six-match NCC. Ty Harden opened the scoring in the 12th minute, but suffered a lower leg injury on the play that will keep him out of the lineup for another three or four weeks. In the 35th minute, Brown struck Garcia to earn a straight red card on the play and put his side down a man. Montreal couldn’t mount an attack in the second half to get the equalizer and Toronto took advantage salting the game away when hard-luck Chad Barrett sidestepped two defenders to score on a nifty goal in the 61st minute.
Heroes and Villains
Montreal’s offense vs. Toronto’s defense: The Impact will face a tough task to score. Not only will they have to deal with the absence of Agourram and Brown, they’ll face a Toronto defense that has been playing conservatively and with increasing confidence every week. It was especially solid in shutting down the Chicago Fire’s balanced scoring attack. Veteran striker Brian McBride was invisible and offensive midfielder Patrick Nyarko was a non-factor in the Fire’s 4-1 loss. Strikers Rocco Placentino and Peter Byers will shoulder the load, but will need help from offensive midfielders Tony Donatelli and Leonardo Di Lorenzo to give Montreal a chance.
Montreal’s defense and midfield vs. Toronto’s offense: Toronto’s offensive breakout against the Fire was impressive and caused by a simple shift to a passing and ground-oriented game. The adjustment awoke what was a dormant offense, so Montreal will need a total team effort to cut off the passing lanes from midfielder Dwayne De Rosario up to strikers Barrett and O’Brian White. If Montreal can cut the supply line, then veteran defenders Nevio Pizolitto and Stefano Pesoli may be able to take Barrett and White out of the game, while allowing the midfield to hone in on De Rosario.
Toronto’s composure vs. Montreal’s composure: Though the two teams have only played each other six times in their history, they’ve grown to quickly detest each other. Winning NCC titles in the other’s home can do that, but the dueling fan bases and factors outside of soccer and sports have helped fuel the long-standing rivalry. The key may come to which team can best maintain its composure over 90 minutes.
Stat that makes you go “Hmm...”
De Rosario has figured into 10 of TFC’s 13 goals scored this season, with six goals and four assists.
He said it
“We want to stay alive in the tournament and we will do everything to succeed Wednesday evening. We are aware that they have dangerous forwards, but we shouldn't change our way of playing. The important thing is to avoid defensive errors because Toronto players can really hurt you.” -- Impact defender Hicham Aaboubou on facing Toronto.
