October 20, 2012 MLS--Toronto FC vs Montreal Impact (by Rocket Robin)

..............................................

Result of the Saturday October 20th, 2012 MLS game between Toronto FC and Montreal Impact played at BMO Field in Toronto at 1:30pm.

Toronto FC (all white, black names and numbers, red shoulders and trim)

.................41 Freddy Hall
25 Jeremy Hall...27 Richard Eckersley...2 Logan Emory...5 Ashtone Morgan
19 Reggie Lambe...21 Aaron Maund...23 Terry Dunfield (cpt)...8 Eric Avila
...........29 Eric Hassli...11 Luis Silva

Subs:...30 Milos Kocic (gk)...4 Doneil Henry (def)...12 Adrian Cann (def)...16 Oscar Cordon (mid)...31 Dicoy Williams (def) ...32 Andrew Wiedeman (fwd)...37 Nicholas Lindsay (fwd)

team officials:...head coach Paul Mariner

Montreal Impact (all blue, white names and numbers)

................1 Troy Perkins
6 Hassoun Camara...13 Matteo Ferrari...15 Jeb Brovsky
18 Collen Warner...8 Patrice Bernier (cpt)...29 Calum Mallace...22 Davy Arnaud (cpt)
........33 Andrew Wenger...11 Sanna Nyassi...9 Marco Di Vaio

Subs:...30 Evan Bush (gk)...3 Shavar Thomas (def)...14 Alessandro Nesta (def)...16 Eduardo Sebrango (fwd)...17 Dennis Iapichino (def) ...21 Justin Mapp (mid)...25 Lamar Neagle (mid)
team officials:...head coach Jesse Marsch (although he was serving a suspension so Mike Sorber the assistant coach was on the sideline)

Game officials:...referee Jose Carlos Rivero...referee's assistants Craig Lowry and Brian Dunn...fourth official Sorin Stoica ...(all black uniforms)

1st Half:...game starts 1:39pm...TFC defends south end on this cold afternoon.
25 sec...Imp Wenger injured at Imp 50 yards on sliding tackle when TFC Maund bumps him jumping for header.
2 min...Imp Nyassi long run up left side and cross from 25 yards near end line is just over net.
2 min...Imp Bernier chips bouncing pass from 65 yards from right up middle for charging Imp Di Vaio but TFC Emory and TFC Eckersley check him off ball just inside box.
3 min...Imp Mallace charges by TFC Maund to take away ball and chips down middle from 30 yards for Imp Wenger whose 12 yard shot is blocked by TFC Eckersley and ball deflects over to left where Imp Brovsky 30 yard cross from left deflects up off defender and Imp Wenger pop up header at 15 yards but cleared by TFC Emory popping up header in middle over to right for clearance.
3 min...Imp Nyassi cross from 30 yards near left sideline has TFC Morgan head ball out of box from 8 yards.
5 min...TFC Hall cross from 35 yards on right has TFC Hassli head 15 yarder down middle that's caught by goalie near right post. The flag was up for offside as Hassli stepped forward before ball was kicked.
6 min...Imp Di Vaio rolls cross from 40 yards on left forward to Imp Bernier who taps pass back from left at 10 yards and Imp Wenger hurries weak shot down middle wide right from 18 yards.
9 min...Imp Brovsky cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Emory head ball away from 10 yards in box.
12 min...Imp Wenger receives pass pushed up middle and rush to 20 yards even with TFC Emory and rolls shot wide right of post as he falls.
13 min...TFC Morgan rusn to get to through pass down left but ball is over end line before it can be crossed.
14 min...Imp Di Vaio cross from 25 yards on right has goalie catch high on left side of goal.
15 min...TFC Silva pushes pass forward from 35 yards but goalie slides to edge of box up middle to smother before TFC Hassli can get to it.
16 min...Imp Camara slides into TFC Silva at TFC 40 yards injurying him. TFC Dunfield pushes over Camara as whistle blown. No cards are given.
18 min...TFC Avila charges to rescue header before it bounces out of play and cross along end line from 12 yards on left deflects off Imp Camara for cornerkick.
18 min...TFC Dunfield cornerkick from left has play whistled down in box although over ball sails over goalie's fist.
19 min...Imp Nyassi pushed into end boards by TFC Hall on run up left.
23 min...TFC Lambe cross from 30 yards on right has TFC Hassli just not able to turn header from 10 yards and ball cleared from box.
It starts to rain quite hard for about 5 minutes.
25 min...TFC Lambe pushes pass forward from 30 yards on right to no one.
27 min...Imp YELLOW card...Arnaud earns it for knock down of TFC Silva at TFC 45 yards.
28 min...TFC Emory is injured at TFC 20 yards with shoulder problems.
29 min...Imp Brovsky crosses in from 30 yards on left and Imp Nyassi flicks header from 12 yards on left across box and TFC Morgan gives up cornerkick to keep Imp Di Vaio from getting ball at 5 yards on right.
30 min...TFC sub...Cann replaces injured Emory who had returned to the game.
30 min...Imp Di Vaio cornerkick from right has charging Imp Ferrari head ball wide left from 8 yards in middle.
33 min...Imp Wenger gets tapped over pass on edge of box on right and runs in and rolls centering cross from 12 yards that TFC Eckersley steps in front of diving goalie and concedes cornerkick with two Imp players waiting for tap-in on left post.
33 min...Imp Di Vaio cornerkick from right is partially cleared and Imp Bernier shoots 25 yarder from left is just wide left of net.
38 min...TFC YELLOW card...Dunfield earns it for knocking over Imp Nyassi breaking out at Imp 30 yards.
39 min...TFC Avila cornerkick from right is popped up by Imp Camara at 6 yards and TFC Hassli turns and shoots from 5 yards on right is blocked. TFC Avila recovers shanked clearance and 20 yard shot from right is caught by goalie on right post.
40 min...TFC Lambe is checked off ball at 15 yards by sliding tackle by Imp Ferrari in middle of Imp box.
40 min...TFC Avila 22 yard shot from right is caught by flying goalie.
42 min...Imp Warner cross from 22 yards on right is through box unplayed and bends for goalkick.
44 min...TFC Dunfield 30 yard freekick from right sideline has TFC Maund head ball over net from 6 yards on left.
46 min...TFC Avila cross from 30 yards on right has TFC Hassli not able to reach header flying forward on left and pushing over Imp Arnaud which was whistled as a freekick.
47 min...half ends 2:26pm.

Halftime entertainment:...There's a competition between three pre chosen contestants to win a KIA car. The three people kicked the ball from the center line into an open net. All three of them miss. The second competition is to draw keys from a tic-tac-toe board. That would mean a one in nine chance. The second guy draws the key that electronically starts the car although we can't hear it. (maybe they could have had someone sitting in the car honk the horn for the winner).

2nd Half:...starts 2:42pm...the weather is overcast again after the sun coming out at the end of the first half.
46 min...Imp Warner on rush on right crosses in from 30 yards and sliding Imp Wenger connected at 10 yards but shoots wide right.
48 min...Imp Di Vaio rush on left and sends cross from 25 yards over box and wide right for goalkick.
49 min...TFC Hassli is touched over ball from TFC Silva and 25 yard shot down middle is caught by goalie.
49 min...Imp Warner eludes two defenders but third player slides to clear his pass from right end line.
50 min...TFC Lambe long run up right and cuts to middle and rolls 20 yard shot that's picked up by goalie.
50 min...Imp Warner is injured at TFC 50 yard line.
53 min...Imp Bernier pass to Imp Di Vaio at 35 yards who passes forward to Imp Arnaud and his low cross from 22 yards from right is into box and cleared by defender.
55 min...Imp Brovsky cross from 40 yards on left is caught by goalie near right post jumping in front of Imp Wenger.
57 min...Imp Di Vaio 22 yard freekick from left is touched upfield to Imp Nyassi who blasts shot up middle wide left of goal from 20 yards.
60 min...Imp Arnaud low cross from 30 yards on right has Imp Bernier get foot to ball at 12 yards but send it over net.
61 min...Imp Wenger low 25 yard shot from right has goalie smother ball.
63 min...Imp sub...Mapp replaces Mallace.
Some smoke flares are lit in the south stands.
66 min...TFC Dunfield 35 yard freekick from right is headed by Imp Arnaud backwards to left and TFC Hassli heads ball to goalie from 12 yards on left.
67 min...TFC Dunfield turns and one-touches 20 yard shot up middle that goalie catches.
68 min...Imp Nyassi low 15 yard shot from left is smothered by goalie.
70 min...Imp sub...Neagle replaces Wenger.
70 min...TFC Hassli cross from left end line is over box from 12 yards after he makes run.
71 min...TFC Dunfield 40 yard freekick down middle has TFC Cann head from 12 yards on left for goalie to pick up on bounce.
72 min...Imp YELLOW card...Camara earns it for tackle on TFC Hassli at Imp 22 yards.
73 min...TFC Silva steps over 22 yard freekick and TFC Dunfield shoots low and into wall.
74 min...TFC Hassli 28 yard shot down middle is sent over net.
75 min...Imp Mapp regains control of ball on left end line eluding sliding TFC Hall and low 10 yard shot is stopped by goalie on right post.
78 min...Imp Di Vaio chips ball up middle from 35 yards and bounces to goalie when Imp Nyassi can't get to it near edge of box.
78 min...TFC Avila 12 yard shot from left is blocked by defender for cornerkick.
79 min...TFC Dunfield cornerkick from left is through box and cleared away by defenders.
80 min...TFC sub...Wiedeman replaces Hassli.
81 min...TFC Dunfield 40 yard freekick up middle has Imp Camara pop up header at 12 yards over to right and TFC Hall cross from 15 yards near right end line is over players in box and out for Imp throw-in.
83 min...Imp Ferrari makes sliding tackle at 15 yards inside Imp box to strip TFC Lambe of ball. (this was at least the third clean sliding tackle he'd made this afternoon).
84 min...Imp Mapp cross from 30 yards on right has TFC Hall in box head ball away from 15 yards.
84 min...TFC Silva at 20 yards in middle taps pass back to TFC Lambe who rolls 22 yard shot up middle that goalie picks up.
85 min...TFC Wiedeman low 25 yard shot after run on right deflects off defender for cornerkick.
86 min...TFC Dunfield cornerkick from left is short but into box and defenders clear.
86 min...Imp YELLOW card...Nyassi earns it for kicking out at TFC Eckersley at center line after passing off ball.
86 min...Imp sub...Iapichino replaces Brovsky.
87 min...TFC Lambe after long run rolls 25 yard shot up middle to Imp goalie as TFC Silva can't get to it on edge of box.
89 min...TFC Dunfield 60 yard freekick from right is headed away on edge of box.
90 min...Imp Arnaud rolls 22 yard cross from right that Imp Di Vaio shoots 10 yarder that TFC Eckersley blocks at 5 yards.
90 min...Imp Arnaud in middle rolls pass forward and to right for Imp Warner who takes 15 yard shot from right has goalie fly to push it wide left.
91 min...Imp player's short cornerkick from left has Imp Di Vaio shoot 15 yarder high and wide right of net.
91 min...Imp Mapp low 25 yard shot up middle through players has goalie dive to block at 6 yards and push to right where TFC Morgan slides to make clearance from box.
92 min...Imp Mapp at 25 yards in middle chips short pass to Imp Bernier on left edge of box and he crosses over players for Imp Di Vaio to shoot 12 yarder into ground and it bounces high just missing the top left corner of the net.
93 min...game ends 3:30pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC......0..........Montreal Impact...........0........

Attendance was announced as 16151. That's slightly better that the DC United game two weeks ago but this was Toronto's greatest sports rival-- Montreal who've been in MLS for all of one year and just missed the playoffs. They are actually in a race against Vancouver Whitecaps for total points to earn top seed in next year's Amway Canadian Championship. First place plays NASL team FC Edmonton while second place plays TFC. The weather did play an important part in keeping people at home as it had rained earlier in the day and last night. The game carried on between overcast, hard rain, sun, then back to overcast.

Fan protest banners were the same as the last game.

This was the first time I remember seeing TFC head coach Paul Mariner not wearing shorts on the sideline but he was wearing an overcoat over a suit and tie.

After the game TFC players readied themselves to walk around the field to salute the fans who had stayed behind. Their first approach there was a chorus of boos that greeted them. They regrouped and probably because a TFC player motioned that he'd throw his shirt into the crowd at the south end that brought a few cheers. The team walked halfway around to the center line then cut their walk and headed for the exits. Montreal players had made a brief walk over to Section 104 in the north east corner to salute their approximately 150 travelling fans.

The tickets today had designated player Danny Koevermans on them. He is still the leading scorer on the team although he's been out injured for three months. The surprise was that designated player Torsten Frings was on the cover of the program. He'd been injured for a few months too but the back of the program had been updated to replace the player listing eg. #18 Nick Soolsma is now Quincy Amarikwa. Maybe they're trying get people to remember the 'good?' old days earlier in the season.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as defender Richard Eckersley. He had an important block near the end of the game to make a save and keep a point for TFC.

The Impact had the best chances of scoring especially at the end of the game. TFC had good set ups but poor finishing with weak heading and rollers that were easily saved by goalie Troy Perkins. Freddy Hall earned the shutout for TFC.

Impact defenders made some great (and clean) sliding tackles on the wet grass. Matteo Ferrari had at least three of them.

TFC Nicholas Lindsay was listed as a sub and I saw him in the warmups. He has been injured for the last two years but this year I've seen him play a few times strongly with the TFC Academy in the Canadian Soccer League. The Academy had been knocked out the CSL playoffs at the Quarterfinal stage by the Montreal Impact Academy! Lindsay was a unused sub in today's game.

TFC Eric Hassli played as a one-man forward line and held the ball up for others like Danny Dichio used to play in the early days of this franchise. Dichio is now the head coach of TFC Academy.

TFC has now gone 13 game without a win including 9 losses. I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk of getting a new head coach for next season besides the lament about getting better players. I suppose because the team hasn't been blown out in many games (not by the scoreline anyway) that the same folks will go into next season as is.

Ticket prices were announced earlier this week as being lowered back to the inaugral 2007 season levels. I looked at an original price guide postcard and there was the original price. (I bought my tickets in 2007 before Christmas in 2006 to take advantage of early bird pricing so they were even lowere bought their statement is technically true).

I was given a woolen KIA hat on the way in. I thought it was flawed because the TFC emblem wasn't in the center of the hat just above the brim but off to the left. I looked around the crowd as more filed in and saw other people with the same style--so it was either 8000 flaws or I'm just behind the times on styling.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com

Major Events

Goals and Assists
None

Match Info
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
Attendance: 16151

Disciplinary
MTL  28'  Davy Arnaud  Foul  Yellow card
TOR  39'  Terry Dunfield  Foul  Yellow card
MTL  73'  Hassoun Camara  Foul  Yellow card
MTL  87'  Sanna Nyassi  Foul  Yellow card

Match Stats
Toronto FC              Montreal Impact
 11   Attempts on Goal     17
  7   Shots on Target       5
  2   Shots off Target      8
  2   Blocked Shots         4
  4   Corner Kicks          3
 11   Fouls                15
 17   Open Play Crosses    22
  3   Offsides              2
  1   First Yellow Cards    3
  0   Second Yellow Cards   0
  0   Red Cards             0
 47   Duels Won            48
 49%  Duels Won %          50%
341   Total Pass          414
 73%  Passing Accuracy %   82%
 45.1% Possession          54.9%

Lineups
 
Toronto – Freddy Hall; 
Jeremy Hall, Richard Eckersley, Logan Emory (Adrian Cann 31’), Ashtone Morgan; 
Reggie Lambe, Terry Dunfield, Aaron Maund, Eric Avila; 
Luis Silva, Eric Hassli (Andrew Wiedeman 81’)
Substitutes not used: Milos Kocic, Doneil Henry, Dicoy Williams, Oscar Cordon, Nicholas Lindsay

 
Montreal – Troy Perkins; 
Hassoun Camara, Matteo Ferrari, Jeb Brovsky (Dennis Iapichino 87’); 
Davy Arnaud, Collen Warner, Patrice Bernier, Calum Mallace (Justin Mapp 64’), 
Sanna Nyassi, Andrew Wenger (Lamar Neagle 71’), Marco Di Vaio
Substitutes not used: Evan Bush, Alessandro Nesta, Eduardo Sebrango, Shavar Thomas

TFC starters