TFC Academy traveled to Montreal on Saturday to face their rivals Montreal Impact Academy in what was a showcase of the CSL's two Academy teams. The match was entertaining for neutrals and supporters alike, ending in a 1-1 stalemate.

"Today’s match represented a true road test for us," remarked head coach Jason Bent about the importance of abandoning comforts that young players become accustomed to.

"At the moment Montreal is the only team in our league that requires overnight accommodations and extensive travel. It is important for our young players to experience having to sit on a bus for a number of hours, sleep in a different bed and eat food that was prepared by people other than their parents."

"All these factors can contribute to individual and collective performance but at the end of the day if they want to become professional footballers this is something that they must be able to handle."

Montreal was well supported and a core group of fans created a nice atmosphere inside Saputo Stadium. The home side started the match well and threatened to score in only the first minute of play as Mircea Ilcu threw his body at a low cross from Alessandro Riggi but his shot missed Toronto keeper Justin Silveira’s near post.

TFC Academy’s Keith Makubuya showed good pace in the 11th min to sprint in behind the Impact’s backline but his touch let him down at the decisive moment and Maxime Crepeau saved at his feet.

Ilcu once again caused concern for the visitors as his pace and movement created another opportunity but he was wasteful with his finish.
Montreal Impact was certainly exerting pressure on TFC and they created a fantastic opportunity for last seasons top goal scorer Reda Agourram who is now part of the Montreal Impact first team. Riggi delivered a right wing cross for Agourram and the striker's header from six-yards forced Silveira into a reflex save which kept the score at nil-nil.

TFC Academy were gifted with an excellent opportunity to take the lead in the 19th minute when Montreal Impact Academy goalkeeper Crepeau had a moment of madness and threw the ball directly to TFC striker Makubuya. With only the keeper to beat in goal and what seemed like acres of space, Makubuya disappointingly hit a tame shot that a grateful Crepeau was happy to gather in his arms.

The Impact scored a goal only a minute later following a quick passing move that resulted in Agourram sprinting away from right back Parker Seymour, before cutting it onto his favoured right foot and slotting a shot into the far corner past Silveira for the 1-0 lead.

TFC Academy managed to created one final chance before half as Josh Janniere picked up a loose ball just outside the box and fired a shot that Crepeau did well to push around the post, considering the number of bodies that were in front of him.

TFC Academy introduced three players at half time with goal keeper Xander Huggins, right back Dino Gardner and striker Tristan Jackman all coming on.

But disaster nearly struck again at the 49th minute when Aaron Schneebeli had a heavy first touch and was disposed 30 yards from goal. Ilcu raced into the Toronto third all alone but Huggins stood tall and the striker missed the far post with his shot.

The visitors began to dominate possession in the second half and substitute Jonathan Lao released Kevan Aleman with a delightful through ball in the 71st minute which took him past the goalkeeper, but he then elected to dribble as opposed to shooting and the chance was lost.

TFC found their breakthrough in the 74th minute as Lao whipped in a cross from the right flank into the danger area between defenders and the keeper. Karl Ouimette's attempted clearance was sliced over the head of Maxime Crepeau for an own goal to level the score at 1-1.

The Reds seemed full of life and pushed to get the winner. Aleman seemed to be on the receiving end of all TFC chances. One good opportunity saw him showing fantastic footwork to evade several defenders, but his attempted chip shot just missed the far post as Crepeau advanced out of goal.

Both teams continued to push forward in the latter stages as it became a very wide open and entertaining match. More drama ensued at the 90th minute when TFC's Janniere dribbled across the top of the box and hit a hard swerving shot that had the goalkeeper rooted to the spot. The effort however, came off the post and the referee blew for full time shortly thereafter to conclude a thrilling match that could have gone to either team. 

The occasion and performance wasn't lost on Bent, who said after the game that Saputo Stadium "is a very difficult place to get a result and it represents the first point we have taken in what was our 4th trip to Montreal in three seasons."

"I was very pleased with the effort from our players and they played their part in what was a very entertaining match. The Montreal supporters were brilliant even though they gave us abuse for 90 minutes which at times was comical for our players and staff."

"I think a draw was fair result as they had the better of the 1st half but we certainly controlled the 2nd half and on another day could have certainly scored 3 goals which will always give you a chance to win football matches."