August 27, 2016 MLS--Toronto FC vs Montreal Impact (by Rocket Robin)

Saturday August 27, 2016 MLS--Toronto FC vs Montreal Impact at BMO Field in Toronto at 7:30pm. (by Rocket Robin)

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Toronto FC (white socks and shirts, red shorts, names and numbers)

.................25 Alex Bono
33 Steven Beitashour...15 Eriq Zavaleta...3 Drew Moor...2 Justin Morrow
7 Wi1l Johnson...4 Michael Bradley (cpt)...21 Jonathan Osorio...18 Marky Delgado
...........17 Jozy Altidore...10 Sebastian Giovinco

Subs:...40 Quillan Roberts (gk)...6 Nick Hagglund (def)...8 Benoit Cheyrou (mid)...9 Tsubasa Endoh (fwd)
...19 Daniel Lovitz (fwd)...31 Armando Cooper (mid)...87 Tosaint Ricketts (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

Montreal Impact (blue socks, black shorts, blue & black striped shirts, white names and numbers)

...................1 Evan Bush
25 Donny Toia...6 Hassoun Camara...23 Laurent Ciman...2 Ambrose Oyongo
18 Kyle Bekker...16 Calum Mallace...30 Hernan Bernardello...10 Ignacio Piatti (cpt)
.............7 Dominic Oduro...11 Didier Drogba

Subs:...22 Eric Kronberg (gk)...19 Michael Salazar (fwd)...21 Matteo Mancoso (fwd)...26 Kyle Fisher (def)
...27 Johan Venegas (mid)...32 Lucas Ontivero (mid)...36 Victor Cabrera (def)
team officials:...head coach Mauro Biello

Game officials:...referee Jorge Gonzalez...referee's assistants Brian Dunn and Eric Boria
...fourth official Caleb Mendez...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

In a pregame ceremony Michael Bradley was presented with a community award by TFC team ambassador Dwayne DeRosario for his charitable work.

1st Half:...game starts 7:39pm...TFC defends south end on this mild and overcast evening.
4 min...Imp Piatti breaks a tackle on left past TFC Delgado near end line but pushes ball over end line for goal kick while trying to get by TFC Beitashour at 20 yards along end line.
7 min...TFC Bradley chips ball from 40 yards up middle too far for TFC Altidore at 25 yards and bounces to goalie.
8 min...Imp Bekker is tapped pass forward from middle and bends 22 yard shot from left just high and wide right of top corner.
10 min...TFC Johnson at 30 yards on left crosses ball into box and ball drops to TFC Giovinco between two defenders at 7 yards on right but he can't gain control and ball rolls for goalie to fall on at 5 yards on right.
11 min...TFC Osorio rolls pass from 28 yards on left over to TFC Giovinco at 25 yards on right and he runs forward to 18 yards and rolls shot from right wide left of post.
11 min...Imp Drogba chips cross from 35 yards on right over to Imp Piatti and his 22 yard shot from left is wide right of net.
13 min...Imp Oyongo high 65 yard cross from left has Imp Drogba leap to head 18 yarder down middle that goalie flies to right to catch at 3 yards near post.
13 min...TFC Morrow dribbles ball down left sidelins and rolls ball over end line when trying to get around Imp Oduro.
16 min...TFC Delgado 22 yard cross along right end line has Imp Toia clear at 6 yards in middle of box.
18 min...Imp Oyongo 35 yard cross from far left is high and through box ahead of Imp Drogba and Imp Oduro.
20 min...TFC Giovinco wins freekick on knockdown on edge of box on bump by Imp Camara although he'd already tapped pass over to TFC Osorio who'd had shot blocked.
20 min...TFC Giovinco 20 yard freekick from left tips off head in player wall and over net for cornerkick.
21 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left has Imp Drogba midair kick away at 1 yard in middle of box that starts fast breakout.
23 min...Imp Piatti 45 yard cross from left has goalie leap to catch at 15 yards on in middle of box behind Imp Drogba and two defenders.
24 min...TFC Beitashour cross from 25 yards on right has Imp Toia in middle on edge of 6 yard box head ball away.
26 min...Imp Oyongo cross from 30 yards on left bounces wide right for throw-in.
31 min...Imp Drogba turns in center circle and chips 55 yard shot down middle well over net.
34 min...TFC Altidore chip from 45 yards on right too far forward for TFC Giovinco and ball bounces wide left for goalkick.
35 min...Imp Camara chips 65 yard cross from right that TFC defender at 20 yards in middle chests back to goalie.
36 min...TFC Johnson rolls ball forward from 35 yards and goalie picks up ball unplayed.
38 min...TFC Delgado rolls 25 yard ball forward from right too far forward for TFC Giovinco and goalie picks up ball.
39 min...TFC Morrow on run down left crosses from 28 yards deflects off Imp Toia and bounces for cornerkick.
39 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left is high and over players and Imp Oduro heads away at 20 yards on right.
40 min...TFC Delgado on right edge of box taps pass over to TFC Altidore at 22 yards on right and he pushes ball forward and past defender but Imp Oyongo clears ball off him at 5 yards and deflects for goalkick.
41 min...TFC Altidore at 35 yards on right rolls pass forward to TFC Beitashour who runs up right sideline and rolls ball back from right end line and Altidore shoots low 15 yarder across into 6 yard box and Imp Mallace in middle of box kicks ball behind end line. Imp Drogba had been injured upfield earlier in play on kick by TFC Johnson.
42 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right is over players in box and TFC Altidore at 15 yards on left has Imp Camara check him off ball and starts Imp Oduro off on a fast break.
42 min...Imp RED card...Calum Mallace earns a direct ejection after a dust up between players on the teams when Imp Dominic Oduro is tripped up at the center line by TFC Marky Delgado. Mallace then bumps into TFC Steven Beitashour running by flattening him.
.........TFC YELLOW card...Delgado earns it for the initial clip from behind of Imp Oduro.
45 min...TFC Osorio has ball poked away by Imp Oyongo at 15 yards on right but wins cornerkick.
46 min...TFC Osorio cornerkick from right has nearest defender Imp Ciman slide at 12 yards and clear ball from box.
47 min...half ends 8:26pm.

Halftime Entertainment: There's Tony from Pizza Pizza giving away a slice to a row of fans, Nestle Drumstick draw with another row of fans winning. What was special tonight was it was a heritage game but instead of honouring a former TFC player the team honoured members of the 1976 NASL Championship team--Toronto Metros-Croatia. They played old news footage of them on the video board. On the field they brought out defenders Paul D'Agostino, Mladen Cukon, and Bob Iarusci, midfielder Carmine Marcantonio, forwards Ivan Grnja and Pat Ercoli, and goaltender Zeljko Bilecki. Also head coach Marian Bilic and staff Bruce Thomas and Daniel Jaksic.

2nd Half:....starts 8:44pm.
46 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from right is over players in box to TFC Altidore at 18 yards on left who heads ball down then touches pass back to TFC Bradley who shoots 28 yarder over net.
47 min...TFC YELLOW card...Zavaleta earns it for knock over on Imp Piatti at 25 yards on run down middle.
47 min...Imp Drogba 25 yard freekick chip down middle is well over net.
48 min...TFC Johnson scissor kick of partial clearance at 22 yards is caught by goalie.
49 min...Imp Ciman 45 yard freekick from left is too far forward for Imp Drogba to get to on right end line.
50 min...TFC Bradley chips pass too far forward from 30 yards for TFC Beitashour to get to on right line.
51 min...TFC goalie keeps Imp Oduro from getting to backpass by booting ball away at 12 yards on left.
51 min...TFC Morrow cross from left near end line has Imp Camara head ball from 12 yards for cornerkick.
52 min...TFC Giovinco cornerkick from left has TFC Moor at 6 yards even with right post head ball forward and across to left and TFC Johnson flies to head from 3 yards along left end line into outside left webbing of net. Imp Drogba is injured on play.
54 min...Imp Mancosu replaces Drogba before play resumes.
55 min...TFC Bradley rolls pass from 30 yards in middle forward and right for charging TFC Beitashour his cross attempt is deflected by sliding Imp Oyongo at 12 yards on far right conceding cornerkick.
55 min...TFC players can't get away shot in Imp box after cornerkick with both TFC Johnson and TFC Altidore having 12 yard shots blocked in succession.
57 min...TFC Bradley chips ball forward from 35 yards and goalie catches on bounce at 6 yards wide right of goal then drops when TFC Altidore bumps into him but wins freekick for that action.
58 min...TFC Giovinco chips cross from 30 yards on right over to TFC Beitahour at 18 yards on far right and his cross deflects off Imp Oyongo at 10 yards on right for throw-in.
58 min...TFC Beitashour cross from 22 yards on far right is into box and retreating Imp Bekker partially clears from 12 yards in center of box. TFC Delgado flicks kick from 20 yards on right over to middle where TFC Giovinco at 25 yards down middle crosses right for Beitashour at 22 yards on right and this time he crosses over players in box for throw-in.
60 min...TFC Bradley cross from 65 yards on right over to TFC Altidore at 45 yards on left and he runs down wing and he rolls centering pass along 20 yard line and TFC Giovinco trips over Imp Ciman who slides out on edge of box. Ball rolls out of play for goalkick. TFC Giovinco is injured on play.
61 min...TFC Morrow cross from 30 yard cross from far left has Imp Oyongo head ball away from 12 yards in middle of box and Imp Bernardello pushes over TFC Giovinco before he can get to ball near edge of box.
62 min...TFC Giovinco freekick from 19 yards on right is caught by goalie without having to move near left side of net.
64 min...TFC Morrow falls on sliding tackle by Imp Camara just inside Imp box on left. TFC Altidore gets to ball and Camara bumps him off ball easily and he falls down inside box and another defender clears.
64 min...TFC Giovinco is injured at Imp 30 yard line on right.
66 min...TFC sub...Endoh replaces injured Giovinco before play resumes.
68 min...Imp Piatti 30 yard shot from left is well wide right of net.
68 min...TFC YELLOW card...Osorio earns it for karate chop to face on Imp Oduro at TFC 35 yard line breaking out of own end.
70 mnin...TFC Beitashour on rush to 22 yards on right then taps pass too far forward for TFC Altidore and ball rolls over end line.
70 min...TFC sub...Ricketts replaces Delgado.
71 min...TFC Endoh receives long cross from TFC Bradley and run on right then crosses from 30 yards that Imp Oyongo raises foot at 25 yards to deflect out for cornerkick.
71 min...TFC Endoh cornerkick from right has Imp Ciman head away at 7 yards near right post.
71 min...TFC Bradley rolls 35 yarder up right and over end line and TFC Ricketts can't get to it before it rolls over end line.
72 min...Imp YELLOW card...goaltender Bush earns it for time wasting.
72 min...Imp Ignacio Piatti GOAL...Imp goalie Evan Bush starts play with long goal kick downfield that Imp Matteo Mancosu flicks header from 45 yards up middle that leaping TFC Eric Zavaleta had missed and Imp Dominic Oduro scissor kicks pass as he falls from 30 yards in middle and Piatti rolls 20 yarder from left eluding sliding TFC Steven Beitashour and beyond diving goalie Alex Bono into right corner of net.
74 min...TFC Bradley 40 yard freekick down middle is over to left where TFC player heads ball to center of box and Imp Oduro leaps at 7 yards even with left post and partially heads clearance and TFC Endoh one-touches midair shot from 8 yards that blocked by Imp Oyongo and ball deflects downfield for quick breakout.
75 min...TFC sub...Cheyrou replaces Beitashour.
75 min...TFC Cheyrou bends in cross from 35 yards on left and Imp Ciman clears in center of box with header at 7 yards.
76 min...TFC Bradley chips ball from 40 yards in middle over to TFC Endoh at 12 yards on right and he one-touch crosses ball that TFC Osorio at 8 yards even with left post one-touch volleys well over net.
76 min...Imp sub...Venegas replaces Oduro.
77 min...TFC Endoh cross from 30 yards on far right is over to TFC Osorio who rescues ball on left end line and passes back. TFC Cheyrou ends up with ball and chips in from 25 yards on left and Imp Camara at 7 yards in middle of box heads away.
78 min...TFC Endoh blasts 25 yard shot from right that Imp flies across box at 10 yards to deflect wide right of net.
78 min...TFC Endoh cornerkick from right has Imp Toia head away from 7 yards from even with right post.
78 min...TFC Johnson rush up from right and 22 yard blast wins cornerkick on deflection off Imp Bernardello at 16 yards.
79 min...TFC Endoh cornerkick from right has TFC Ricketts turn and head ball from 8 yards out of box and TFC Cheyrou's 25 yard shot from left is stopped by Imp Mancosu on edge of box.
80 min...TFC Osorio cornerkick from left has Imp Oyongo at 8 yards heads away and he's triped up on fast break.
80 min...Imp YELLOW card...Mancosu earns it for knock down on sideline of TFC Bradley at 33 yard line.
80 min...TFC Bradley 40 yard freekick from right is caught by goalie jumping in crowd of players at 5 yards even with left post.
81 min...Imp Bernardello 35 yard chip from left bounces to goalie.
81 min...TFC Cheyrou chips pass from 35 yards on left has TFC Endoh head ball that bounces across box from 15 yards on far right but Imp Oyongo heads downward at 6 yards in middle of box and goalie runs to right to pick up bouncer.
82 min...TFC Bradley is tapped back centering pass by TFC Endoh from near right end line and partially whiffs 15 yard shots that bounces wide left for a throw-in. Imp Bekker is injured on play in box.
85 min...TFC Cheyrou cross from 30 yards on far left is over head of leaping TFC Altidore at 8 yards and Imp Bekker kicks ball away.
85 min...TFC Cheyrou gets to short pass on left side of box but Imp defenders check him off ball at 8 yards.
86 min...TFC Johnson chips ball from 25 yards on right into box and diving Imp Ciman heads away at 8 yards in middle.
86 min...TFC Morrow cross from 30 yards on left has TFC Ricketts head from 6 yards on left into outside webbing of net.
88 min...Imp Venegas and Imp Mancosu cornerkick worked up along end line and rolled for TFC goalie to pick up.
89 min...Imp sub...Salazar replaces Piatti. Camara becomes captain.
90 min...TFC Endoh crosses high from 20 yards from right endline and Imp Venagas jumps in front of TFC Morrow at 18 yards on edge of box to head ball away.
90 min...TFC Endoh cross from 25 yards on right has Imp Oyongo at 7 yards on right dive and head ball away.
90 min...Imp YELLOW card...Bekker earns it for knock down of TFC Osorio in crowd of players at 22 yards in middle.
91 min...TFC Cheyrou freekick from 22 yards up middle hits player in wall and wins a retake as players moved to quickly on his kick.
92 min...TFC Cheyrou 22 yard freekick up middle is around player wall low and goalie smothers on left post.
93 min...TFC Cheyrou 33 yard shot up middle is wide left.
94 min...TFC Bradley 45 yard chip from right has Imp Camara head ball away in crowd of players at 8 yards on left side of box.
95 min...game ends 9:34pm.

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

The PA announced that today's crowd was a 'sellout' of 28454. I've heard from many sources that there are just over 30000 seats.

My ticket was printed as $146.00 but did save me the $18 admission price to the CNE today.

Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) was Justin Morrow. He put in some good crosses as did TFC Steven Beitashour but wasn't outstanding.

TFC had never lost to the Impact at BMO Field even before the Impact had an MLS franchise. TFC once lost a Canadian Campionship with a home tie that let the Impact win when the competition was a three team group with Vancouver.

TFC had just taken over first place in the East for the first time this lated in the season with a midweek win in Orlando while New York City FC was idle. Now they must wait for tomorrow to see the result of the NYCFC vs Orlando City game to see if NYCFC will leapfrog them back into first place.

TFC has a good chance of finishing first with a home heavy schedule and all remaining games against teams from the weak Eastern Conference.

TFC played the entire second half with a man advantage after Calum Mallace was Red carded at 42 minutes for a challenge that started a brawl. Marky Delgado earned a Yellow card on the play.

TFC was dominating play the entire game but they kept trying to set up the perfect shot and had passes intercepted or unplayable. Their shooting was poor.

TFC Sebastian Giovinco had freekicks from just where he wanted them but sent shots into the player wall or to the goalie. He was subbed off at 66 minutes after an injury and Tsubasa Endoh took his place on cornerkicks but couldn't do any better.

Imp Didier Drogba had left at 55 minutes with an injury.

TFC goalie Alex Bono didn't have much work to do. Clint Irwin is returning from a long injury and will be the starting goalie for TFC II tomorrow afternoon against FC Montreal (the USL team of the Impact). There's nothing wrong with TFC II goaltending but that's one thing being a development team for an MLS club means ordering their USL affiliamte to play certain guys--that's not the first time this season that's happened.

TFC Benoit Cheyrou made his return after a long injury and subbed in at 75 minutes as a midfielder for a defender (although a defender who ran up the wings) to press for the tieing goal. He couldn't do any better than replacing Steven Beitashour.

TFC Jonathan Osorio was checked off the ball a few times. Neither he nor Will Johnson were chosen for Canada for World Cup Qualifying next month. Only regular Canadian player Tosaint Ricketts who just signed with TFC about a month ago was called up for the crucial games against Honduras and El Salvador.

The referee gave out a total of six Yellow cards (four to the Impact) plus the Red in a tough challenging game.

Impact were holding on once they had the lead with time wasting and injuries although it could be argued they were hanging on for a tie right after the Red card was given.

The TFC overall play infuriated the fans in my section with them expecting a lot more shots and less passing around in the backfield.

We early arrivals were given a Metros-Croatia playing card with Eusebio holding the NASL trophy while being carried on players shoulders. It is the same pose as today's ticket but the background on the card is shown.

I asked Filip Blaskovic why he was not on the field at halftime for the ceremony honouring the 1976 Metros-Croatia. He said he was part of a faction that didn't agree with the set-up of the ceremony and their group wasn't part of the group that did take part. He is a season ticket holder in my row. His tickets are often used by his daughter Tina Blaskovic who I watched play over the years for Toronto Inferno of the W-League back around 2002 and played a few games for the Canadian National team.

Should TFC decline playing a man up? They tied Houston while a man up the entire second half. They lost to San Jose while playing two men up!

The streetcar was running to the Exhibition loop for the first time this season. It was to allow older patrons access to the CNE grounds for the two and a half weeks that the exhibition is open and saves the eight block walk or wait for non-existant shuttle buses. The day after Labour Day the tracks will be closed again for another few months of renovation and replacement. This weekend the subway was closed between Lawrence and Bloor so it took me the same two hours to get home with the required detours.

The only other home loss this year was to the other Canadian team--Vancouver Whitecaps back on May 14th. That game TFC were also a man up from 74 minutes.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com
Match Information

Goals and Assists
73'    MTL  Ignacio Piatti         Assisted By: Dominic Oduro, Matteo Mancosu 

Disciplinary
43'    MTL  Calum Mallace          Reason: Violent Conduct      RED card
44'    TOR  Marco Delgado          Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
48'    MTL  Eriq Zavaleta          Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
70'    TOR  Jonathan Osorio        Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
73'    MTL  Evan Bush              Reason: Time wasting 
81'    MTL  Matteo Mancosu         Reason: Unsporting Behavior 
90'+1' MTL  Kyle Bekker            Reason: Unsporting Behavior 


Lineup

Toronto FC  
17 F Jozy Altidore 
10 F Sebastian Giovinco  (67')
25 G Alex Bono 
33 D Steven Beitashour   (76')
15 D Eriq Zavaleta 
 3 D Drew Moor 
 2 D Justin Morrow 
 4 M Michael Bradley 
18 M Marco Delgado      (71')
 7 M Will Johnson 
21 M Jonathan Osorio 

Bench
40 G Quillan Roberts 
 8 D Benoit Cheyrou     (76')
 6 D Nick Hagglund 
87 M Tosaint Ricketts   (71')
31 M Armando Cooper 
19 M Daniel Lovitz 
 9 F Tsubasa Endoh      (67')

Manager  Greg Vanney 
 
Montreal Impact 
11 F Didier Drogba     (55')
 1 G Evan Bush 
25 D Donny Toia 
 6 D Hassoun Camara 
23 D Laurent Ciman 
 2 D Ambroise Oyongo 
16 M Calum Mallace 
30 M Hernán Bernardello 
 7 M Dominic Oduro      (77') 
18 M Kyle Bekker 
10 M Ignacio Piatti     (90')

Bench
22 G Eric Kronberg 
26 D Kyle Fisher 
36 D Víctor Cabrera 
32 M Lucas Ontivero 
19 M Michael Salazar    (90')
27 M Johan Venegas      (77')
21 F Matteo Mancosu     (55')

Manager  Mauro Biello 
 
Officials
Referee  Jorge Gonzalez 
Assistant Referee  Brian Dunn 
Assistant Referee  Eric Boria 
Fourth Official  Caleb Mendez 
 
Match Information
MLS at BMO Field
Toronto, ON
Attendance 28454
Weather Cloudy 
 
Team Statistics

TOR                           MTL
 17     Shots                   8 
  3     Shots on Target         3 
 10     Shots off Target        5 
  4     Blocked Shots           0 
 11     Corners                 1 
 35     Crosses                 4 
  0     Offsides                1 
 11     Fouls                  12 
  3     Yellow Cards            3 
  0     Red Cards               1 
501     Total Passes          279 
 84 %   Passing Accuracy       71 % 
 65.7 % Possession             34.3 % 
 38     Duels Won              45 
 14     Tackles Won            17 
  2     Saves                   3 
  0     Clearances             29

Toronto FC starters