The streak has been broken. After going the entire season without one loss at home at BMO Field Toronto FC on Wednesday night finally fell. Now normally one loss wouldn’t be something to ruminate over. But this loss will sting just a little bit more since comes courtesy of the Montreal Impact. Thanks to a couple of early goals and a little luck the Impact defeated Toronto by the score of 5-3.
All season Toronto’s bread-and-butter has been to score early and capitalize on their opponent’s mistakes. In a cruel twist of fate Montreal used their same tactics against them. Within just the first quarter hour of the match the Impact would already have a 2-0 lead with goals coming from Ignacio Piatti (10′) and Marco Donadel (12′). Piatti would get another in the 24th minute with a right-footed howler past Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bono. Toronto would get on the board with an own goal coming from Montreal Deian Boldor (42′)just before halftime.
In the second half though the Impact would put this match away thanks to a brace from forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel (47” and 51′). Toronto would make things interesting late with a brace coming from their own Canadian National Team forward Tossaint Ricketts (77′ and 79′). But it was too little, too late for Toronto who saw their 11 game match unbeaten run snapped as well.
Rivalry aside, the victory perhaps means more for Montreal than the loss does for Toronto. With three points secured the Impact (11-12-6, 39 points) ended their four match winless run and pulled to within three points of the New York Red Bulls (12-10-6, 42 points) for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. One should also keep in mind that the Red Bulls have a game in hand over Montreal.
Toronto meanwhile still maintain an overwhelming advantage (18-4-8, 62 points) in their pursuit of first place in the East and the Supporters Shield. They are still eleven points up on New York City FC (15-8-6, 51 points) for top honors in the East. New York is also their closest rival for the Shield
Please check out some of our photos from the match courtesy of Prost Amerika photographer David Chant (You can give him your thoughts on Instagram). Also feel free to enjoy all of our TFC photos from 2017 on SmugMug.
Toronto FC
Montreal Impact
