Sunday October 15, 2017--Toronto FC vs Montreal Impact game review (by Rocket Robin)

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I've found that I don't have the time to do a game play by play with all the writeups I'm doing
covering other leagues. I will skip the details and maybe do that after the season is over.

Result of the Sunday October 15, 2017 MLS game between Toronto FC and Montreal Impact
played at BMO Field in Toronto at 5:00pm.

15 min...TFC Jozy Altidore GOAL...TFC Michael Bradley at 35 yards in middle rolls pass forward
and right to TFC Marky Delgado at 25 yards who turns to goal and chips short pass forward
that deflects off Imp Shaun Francis at 22 yards and ball bounces forward to Altidore
charging forward and at 10 yard line while in-line with right post shoots roller past sliding
Imp goalie Maxime Crepeau at 7 yards and into left corner of net.

Final Score:....Toronto FC.....1.....Montreal Impact....0....

Attendance was announced as 27866 which was not a sellout and breaks a long stretch.
I was somewhat surprised as the weather wasn't cold and it was Match Officials Appreciation Day
and that added over 500 referees and their families to tickets that were sold. I can offer
as reasons for the lower attendance the fact that this game didn't matter in the standings
and the treat of rain in forecasts through the day. There was a sudden rainstorm while I was
huddled waiting to get in to the stadium and there were gusty winds and a bit of rain for
a short stretch.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was announced as Jozy Altidore and with the only
goal in the game was an easy choice. He stayed on until 85 minutes but was walking the last
few minutes of his playing time. I would have given it to goalie Alex Bono who made some key
saves and made some good runs forward to stop danger from developing although he had less
to do than many of TFC's usual games. He also made some poor clearances which caused trouble.
The lack of scoring an insurance goal meant that any slip up could have meant a late tying goal.

Referee Ted Unkel gave out six Yellow cards (two to TFC). Two of them were for dissent
(Michael Bradley) and delaying a restart (Impact goalie Maxime Crepeau so the game wasn't
as rough as the card numbers indicated.

In first half injury time TFC was awarded a Penalty kick when Sebastian Giovinco was tripped
up while cutting back in the Impact box by Victor Cabrera. Giovinco was chosen to take it rather
than Victor Vazquez who has become the usual Penalty kick taker. Giovinco had lost his spot
because of early season misses but I expect this so he would regain his confidence. He rolled
his Penalty kick after stopping on his stutter step run up and hit the left post and a defender
cleared the rebound behind the line. The referee ordered a retake as Crepeau had stepped forward
off his line before the shot was taken. On the retake he struck the ball harder on a continuous
run up but hit the outside of the left post and the ball deflected behind the line for a goalkick.
The whistle to end the half was blown right after. I can't see that this will boost his confidence.
Last year's MLS Final came down to Penalty kicks and it was Michael Bradley (saved) and
Justin Morrow (off the bar) that meant TFC lost in the end despite Seattle not getting
a shot on net in regulation and extra time.

Giovinco was returning to the lineup after an injury that had kept him out of action for
almost a month. His timing on passing and accuracy of shots was just not there. TFC's final
game is next week away in Atlanta but it's on artificial turf so I don't know if he'll play.
It was published that Giovinco, Altidore, Bradley, and Vazquez hadn't started together since
their September 9 game here against San Jose.

Best chances that didn't result in goal was at 5 minutes when TFC Marky Delgado blasted
a 22 yard shot up the middle which hit the bar. 14 minutes had Imp Matteo Mancosu get past
TFC Chris Mavinga on a run down the middle to just outside the box and Mavinga hip-checked
him over but play continued and TFC charged upfield for the Altidore goal. 19 minutes had
Mancosu recover a failed header attempt and on breakaway took a low 15 yard shot that was
stopped point blank by the sliding goalie at 8 yards. 22 minutes had TFC Victor Vazquez take
a cornerkick from the right that had Delgado head forward and TFC Nicolas Hasler was not
quite able to turn a header at 8 yards on the right post. 26 minutes had Valdez take
a 35 yard freekick from the right sideline that TFC Justin Morrow was not quite able
to turn a header at 8 yards on the left post. 50 minutes had Imp Victor Cabrera shoot
a low shot from 22 yards on the left that hit the right post and the ball deflected over
and hit the left post and Bono who had been standing in the middle of the box at 2 yards
spun and dived back right to smother the ball with Mancosu having overran the ball into
the net and turned back around too late. Laurent Ciman had been injured just inside the
box earlier but the teams just played on. 90 minutes and Imp Blerim Dzemaili took a 28 yard
freekick from the right that the goalie stopped on an overhead catch quickly stepping
forward to prevent a possible header on the left post.

A gusty wind picked up from the north at around the 22 minute mark. I figured if TFC could
survive until the end of the half they'd do better in the second with the wind at their back.

Impact didn't have Canadian international Anthony Jackson-Hamel on the bench as he was
injured in the international Canada had against El Salvador last week. Ignatio Piatti
was also not on the bench even after signing an extension to his contract last week.
Impact head coach Mauro Biello was informed recently that he will not be returning
to that position next year so he had the freedom to experiment with tonight's lineup.
Only starting goalie Maxime Crepeau who had played against TFC in the Canadian Championship
was his experimentation.

The Impact are known as a counterattack team but there were patches in this game where
TFC were getting their only chances on quick transition counterattacks. There were some
times when Impact had success pressing and that brought reminders of their quick start
in their 5-3 visit here on September 20 that ended TFC's home unbeaten run.

TFC started the game without any Canadians. Impact had only midfielder Samuel Piette and
goalie Maxime Crepeau as their Canadian starters. Eventually TFC brought in subs
Jonathan Osorio at 69 minutes and Impact brought on Patrice Bernier one minute after that.
This will be the retiring Bernier's last game in Toronto. Starting Impact forward
Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla has not declared his international status yet but an effort
is being made for to him to declare for Canada.

We were encouraged to arrive half hour early to watch the presentation of the Supporters'
Shield but the gates weren't opened any earlier for us (one hour before game time
is the norm). The warm ups took place at the normal time of 45 minutes before kick off
time and lasted 30 minutes. There was no early ceremony. The television schedule had
allotted a two and half hour time period before switching to the start of the Vancouver
game. (two hours is the usual allowance). The sun actually came out during the warm ups.

The Shield was presented by a member of an FC Dallas supporter's group (they had won
it last year). It was given to members of representatives of the various TFC supporters
groups. I heard six groups mentioned. They passed it among themselves before the national
anthem was played (only O Canada today as they were both Canadian teams). From my side
of the field this was hard to see. We were encouraged to stay after the game when captain
Michael Bradley would be presented with the Shield by supporters.

We were reminded that Steven Beitashour and Justin Morrow both made their 200th MLS
appearance in the last game (it was mentioned back then too). They both had MLS careers
before being picked up by TFC. There was also a presentation of Invictis Game participants
which ended in Toronto a few weeks ago. We had been shown a video of Jordan Hamilton's
growing up in Toronto. (he wasn't even on the bench today).

The southside supporters had a great oversized banner that read "Started from the bottom
now we're here" which is the title of a Drake song from 2013. Drake is from Toronto
and although aligned with team owners MLSE he spends his time at Raptor basketball games.
TFC were the worst team many of the years from their start in 2007.

After the game the Supporters' Shield was presented in the south end (where all the
supporters groups stand). The first part of the ceremony was blocked until the players
held the Shield overhead.

Now the players walked the complete circumference of the field including my Section 108
on the East side which by this time had rows of empty seats. It was a nice touch that
we weren't ignored like we are every other game. A lot of fans I didn't recognize in my
section and the exodus started at 80 minutes with the game still in doubt. Eleven years
of waiting for this moment and fans in my section could be bothered to stay! Just as the
players finally were marching by my section the south side was almost emptied out.
Players on the march around the field kicked or threw undersized red coloured soccer
balls into the stands. On my way out players were still on the field on the West side
with fans from the prime $ seats that had been let through the barriers onto the field.

Good news for me as the early departing fans hadn't taken all the streetcars.

The playoff qualifying race had ended last weekend in the East when New York Red Bulls
who were one of the few teams to play over the international break won their home game
against Vancouver and that one result ended the slim hopes of Montreal, Philadelphia,
New England, and Orlando City with two weekends to go. Placement doesn't matter to TFC
who by winning the Shield guarantee they will hold home field advantage in the rounds
that they have to play.

I got some good news right before I left and that was by looking up the Toronto transit
website and finding the subway closure scheduled for my line had been cancelled this
weekend so I didn't have to leave one hour earlier than usual.

TFC's record improves to 20 wins, 5 losses, 8 ties for 68 points. They had already clinched
first place in the Eastern Conference. Their 72 goals for is the best in the league and
their goal difference of +37 (72-35) is also the best. Sporting Kansas City with 27 goals
against has that best record.

Montreal's record drops to 11 wins, 16 losses, 6 ties for 39 points. They will finish
somewhere under the sixth place final playoff position in the East.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter RocketRobin01

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
16'    TOR Jozy Altidore 

Disciplinary
23'    MTL Hassoun Camara        Reason: Dissent 
26'    TOR Michael Bradley       Reason: Dissent 
29'    MTL Blerim Dzemaili       Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
45'+2' MTL Maxime Crépeau        Reason: Delaying the restart of play 
59'    MTL Víctor Cabrera        Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
90'    TOR Benoit Cheyrou        Reason: Unsporting Behavior 

Lineup

Toronto FC 
17 F Jozy Altidore        (86')
10 F Sebastian Giovinco 
25 G Alexander Bono 
15 D Eriq Zavaleta        (70')
 3 D Drew Moor 
23 D Chris Mavinga 
26 M Nicolas Hasler       (75')
18 M Marco Delgado 
 4 M Michael Bradley 
 7 M Víctor Vázquez 
 2 M Justin Morrow 

Bench
 1 G Clint Irwin 
21 D Jonathan Osorio       (70')
33 M Steven Beitashour     (75')
31 M Armando Cooper 
 8 F Benoit Cheyrou        (86') 
87 F Tosaint Ricketts 
44 F Raheem Edwards 

Manager  Greg Vanney  

Montreal Impact 
21 F Matteo Mancosu            (78') 
40 G Maxime Crépeau 
 6 D Hassoun Camara 
36 D Víctor Cabrera 
23 D Laurent Ciman 
14 D Shaun Francis 
29 M Samuel Piette 
30 M Hernán Bernardello        (71') 
15 M Andrés Romero 
31 M Blerim Dzemaili 
13 M Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla    (62')

Bench
 1 G Evan Bush 
35 D Deian Boldor 
 8 M Patrice Bernier           (71')
19 M Michael Salazar           (62')
25 M Louis Beland-Goyette 
28 M Shamit Shome 
 7 F Dominic Oduro             (78')

Manager Mauro Biello 

Officials
Referee  Ted Unkel 
Assistant Referee  Philippe Briere 
Assistant Referee  Kathryn Nesbitt 
Fourth Official  Sorin Stoica 
Video Assistant Referee  David Gantar 

Match Information
MLS at BMO Field
Toronto, ON
Attendance 27866
Weather Clear

Team Statistics
TOR                        MON
 14     Shots               19 
  3     Shots on Target      5 
 10     Shots off Target     6 
  1     Blocked Shots        8 
  3     Corners              6 
 14     Crosses             14 
  0     Offsides             6 
  9     Fouls               12 
  2     Yellow Cards         4 
  0     Red Cards            0 
507     Total Passes       408 
 81 %   Passing Accuracy    76 % 
 55.5 % Possession          44.5 % 
 51     Duels Won           49 
 16     Tackles Won         16 
  5     Saves                2 
 11     Clearances          19

Toronto FC starters