April 24, 2013--Toronto FC vs Montreal Impact--Amway Canadian Championship 1st Leg Semi-Final (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Wednesday April 24th, 2013 Amway Canadian Championship 1st Leg Semi-Final game between Toronto FC and Montreal Impact played at BMO Field in Toronto at 7:45pm.

Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

...................24 Stefan Frei (cpt)
33 Ryan Richter...3 Danny Califf...4 Doneil Henry...5 Ashtone Morgan
7 John Bostock...21 Jonathan Osorio...8 Kyle Bekker...9 Emery Walshman
...........17 Justin Braun...32 Andrew Wiedeman

Subs:...40 Quillan Roberts (gk)...6 Gale Agbossoumonde (def)...11 Luis Silva (mid)...26 Ashton Bennett (fwd)...28 Taylor Morgan (fwd)
...31 Hogan Ephraim (mid)...48 Darren O'Dea (def)
head coach Ryan Nelsen

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

..................30 Evan Bush
5 Jeb Brovsky...34 Karl Ouimette...6 Hassoun Camara...51 Maxim Tissot
11 Sanna Nyassi...18 Collen Warner...8 Patrice Bernier (cpt)...21 Justin Mapp
...........16 Calum Mallace...33 Andrew Wenger

Subs:...40 Maxime Crepeau (gk)...7 Felipe Martins (mid)...15 Andrew Romero (fwd)...17 Dennis Iapichino (def)...31 Andrea Pisanu (mid)
...35 Daniele Paponi (fwd)...55 Wandrille Lefevre (mid)
head coach Marco Schallibaum

Game officials:...referee Paul Ward...referee's assistants Richard Gamache and Gianni Facchini...fourth official Justin Tasev ...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 7:47pm...TFC defends south end on this cold and damp evening. It had rained all afternoon almost up to gametime. There is a strong wind from the north.
2 min...Imp goalie picks up 25 yard roller from left sent in by TFC Morgan.
3 min...Imp Mapp rush on left and 22 yard cross is deflected by defender and knocked down and cleared by TFC Bekker at 10 yards.
5 min...Imp Bernier chips 30 yarder down middle over players and ball bounces to goalie.
5 min...Imp Mapp rush on left wing and 25 yard cross is caught by goalie at 6 yards in front of charging Imp Nyassi.
7 min...TFC Richter long throw-in from right has TFC Henry in front of crowd of players tip header from 5 yards near right post behind him wide right of net into side netting.
10 min...TFC Welshman at 25 yards on left taps ball left for TFC Morgan who crosses from near left sideline 30 yarder into box and TFC Braun in crowd of players at 8 yards heads ball over to right where TFC Bostock takes 15 yard shot that's blocked and he then turns and taps ball back to TFC Richter who chips in 30 yard ball from left over to left where TFC Welshman rescues it at 12 yards on left but is knocked over by Imp Bernier for Imp freekick in box.
14 min...Imp Camara is injured in collision with TFC Braun at Imp 40 yards.
16 min...TFC Bostock 30 yard freekick from right has flying goalie push bending shot wide right of net.
17 min...TFC Bostock cornerkick from right is high and headed away from middle of box from 6 yards by defender.
19 min...TFC Richter bends high cross from 25 yards on far right that's wide left of net for goalkick.
20 min...TFC Bekker 55 yard freekick from left is caught by goalie well wide right of net.
21 min...TFC Richter gets his fourth throw-in in a minute from the right. Throw-in two and three are both headed away. The fourth one wins a cornerkick as it's headed over end line by defender.
22 min...TFC Bostock cornerkick from right has defender in crowd of players head ball through box out left side but wins freekick when goalie was knocked over.
22 min...Imp Tissot gets back to check TFC Wiedeman off ball on right side of box.
23 min...Imp Brovsky throw-in from right has Imp player chip cross from 10 yards on right as he falls has Imp Mapp flick up 8 yarder but ball is blocked and cleared by run of TFC Richter. TFC defenders prevent Mapp from dribbling ball back into box on left side.
26 min...Imp Mapp cornerkick from right is caught by leaping goalie.
32 min...Imp Mapp rush up left and low cross from 20 yards has TFC Henry do splits at 5 yards to stop and clear ball.
34 min...TFC Bekker 45 yard freekick down middle has TFC Henry pop up header at backwards just inside box on right and goalie catches.
36 min...Imp Nyassi low cross from 18 yards near right end line has goalie dive forward to smother on right post.
37 min...Imp Camara blasts 55 yarder down middle over players and well wide right of net.
39 min...Imp Bernier 35 yard freekick from left has goalie punch ball away in crowd of players at 6 yards but wins freekick for bump in box.
42 min...Imp Brovsky cross from 30 yards on right sideline is over forward's head and TFC Richter clears at 12 yards on left side of box.
43 min...TFC Califf heads ball back to goalie from 22 yards to prevent Imp forward from getting to through ball pass.
43 min...Imp goalie charges to edge of box to pick up TFC Morgan's roller from 35 yards on left that players fail to play.
44 min...Imp Mallace rush on left and taps pass to back Imp Mapp who crosses from 20 yards on left and TFC Morgan heads ball away from 7 yards on right. Imp Tissot slides to cross on left end line but ball rolls over end line.
46 min...half ends 8:33pm.

Halftime entertainment:...There was no halftime entertainment.

2nd Half:...half starts 8:49pm. The weather is getting even colder and still with a gusty wind.
46 min...Imp Tissot crosses forward from 55 yards on left tips off chest of charging Imp Wenger at 18 yards and ball rolls wide left of net.
48 min...TFC Richter long throw-in from right is headed by defender at 6 yards for cornerkick.
48 min...TFC Doneil Henry GOAL...TFC John Bostock cornerkick from right is over players in box. TFC Andrew Wiedeman rescues ball on left end line and rolls ball from 12 yards into middle of box but ball rolls unplayed. TFC Jonathan Osorio rolls ball back into box from 22 yards on left and sliding Imp Maxim Tissot blocks ball at 15 yards. Henry blasts 20 yarder down middle to top left corner of net past flying goalie Evan Bush.
51 min...TFC Bostock cornerkick from right is high and bends behind net.
51 min...TFC Welshman wins cornerkick on 18 yard cross on left that deflects off Imp Brovsky.
52 min...TFC Bekker cornerkick from left is low and cleared by defender.
53 min...TFC Osorio rolls ball across box from 15 yards on right after stepping around Imp Tissot and TFC Wiedeman tips ball with foot from 5 yards on right that diving goalie pushes from 2 yards wide left of net and Imp Brovsky rescues on left end line and clears out of box.
54 min...Imp YELLOW card...Mallace earns it for tripping TFC Richter at Imp 50 yards.
54 min...TFC Bekker 50 yard freekick chip down middle has charging goalie miss as TFC Braun gets head to it at 12 yards and knocks ball just wide right.
56 min...TFC Bekker cross from 25 yards on right is just over head of charging TFC Braun at 8 yards and ball bounces wide left for goalkick.
57 min...TFC Richter centers pass from 22 yards on right over to TFC Wiedeman who has 13 yard shot blocked by leg of Imp Camara.
59 min...Imp sub...Romero replaces Mapp.
........Imp sub...Paponi replaces Mallace.
60 min...Imp Nyassi rush on left and cross from 20 yards has retreating TFC Morgan make partial clearance from 6 yards. Imp Warner blasts off balance 22 yard shot well over net.
62 min...TFC Bekker curls in 30 yard shot down middle that's caught by goalie wide left of net.
63 min...TFC Bekker 55 yard freekick from left has defender head ball away. TFC Wiedeman turns and blasts 30 yard rebound over net.
66 min...TFC Bekker 45 yard freekick has goalie punch ball away at 10 yards in crowd of players.
67 min...Imp Nyassi cross from 22 yards on far left has flying goalie punch ball away to left.
68 min...Imp goalie catches TFC Bostock cross from 30 yards on rush up right sideline.
68 min...Imp Nyassi is injured in collision with TFC Califf at TFC 35 yards.
70 min...TFC sub...Ephraim replaces Braun.
........TFC sub...Silva replaces Bekker.
71 min...TFC goalie moves to edge of box to catch bouncer ahead of charging Imp Wenger.
72 min...TFC Richter long throw-in from right wins cornerkick when Imp player in box heads ball behind end line.
73 min...TFC Bostock high cornerkick from right is high but wins cornerkick on left when jumping defender on left end line heads it out of play.
73 min...TFC Silva cornerkick from left has defender head away from box on 10 yard header.
74 min...TFC Silva low 45 yard freekick down middle has defender clear on edge of box.
75 min...Imp Bernier 35 yard freekick from extreme left has Imp Camara head ball from 6 yards down middle wide right but offside flag was up.
76 min...Imp sub...Pisanu replaces Nyassi.
77 min...TFC Morgan is injured at Imp 30 yards when ball checked off him by Imp Romero. Play continues upfield by both teams unnoticed by them and referee.
78 min...Imp goalie catches long high bouncer.
79 min...Imp Tissot rush on left and low cross from 30 yards has Pisanu touch at 10 yards but deflects ball high and wide left of net.
80 min...Imp Pisanu cross from 30 yards on far left is through box and Imp Romero on right rescues ball on end line and rolls cross into box that defender clears at 10 yards.
80 min...TFC Andrew Wiedeman GOAL...TFC Luis Silva charging out of own end on left threads pass from 50 yards to charging Wiedeman at 30 yards who gets between and behind two defenders and he sends low 16 yard shot up middle past diving goalie at 8 yards to left side of net.
83 min...TFC YELLOW card...Wiedeman earns it for not giving 10 yards on a freekick.
83 min...Imp Pisanu 45 yard freekick from left wins cornerkick when ball is headed behind endline from 15 yards.
84 min...Imp Bernier cornerkick from left has defender head away at 6 yards.
85 min...TFC Richter low 18 yard shot deflects off leg of Imp Camara high and wide right for cornerkick.
85 min...TFC Bostock cornerkick from right is caught by goalie at 5 yards even with left post.
87 min...TFC Morgan is injured at TFC 30 yards and wins freekick.
88 min...TFC Silva cornerkick from left has TFC Richter leaping 10 yard header on right bounce to goalie.
89 min...Imp Pisanu can't win freekick on edge of TFC box when he receives tap back pass from left end line and is bumped by TFC Bostock.
89 min...TFC Bostock low 22 yard shot from right is wide right of net.
90 min...TFC Osorio bumped over on right side of box by Imp Tissot but Tissot rolls clearance into box where TFC Wiedeman steps forward and blasts 7 yard shot that goalie bats away at 2 yards and defender clears from box.
92 min...TFC Silva is injured in center circle on bump by Imp Bernier.
93 min...game ends 9:37pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto FC......2..........Montreal Impact...........0........

Attendance was announced as 11043. That number is an all time low for this competition. The only lower was a CONCACAF Championship game last year. Tonight was a midweek game and the weather was cold, damp, and windy. It had rained all afternoon and only stopped just before gametime so killed any walk up crowd. I couldn't say the weather was an advantage to TFC like it was against Houston because Montreal gets temperatures like this. The Impact had to postpone their game by a day a week and a half ago before because of a snowfall. Long sleeves were worn by both teams tonight.

There was no Man of the Match announced tonight as I expect it was because Budweiser was not a sponser of tonight's game. I would have picked Doneil Henry. He had the winning goal obviously but he had some dangerous headers in the Impact box on crosses and long throw-ins. He also did the splits on a defensive play to stop a low cross into the 6 yard box that was waiting for a tap-in.

Both teams used their Canadians and back up goalies for this game--saving the regulars for weekend MLS games. TFC had five Canadian starters with Ashtone Morgan, Doneil Henry, Jonathan Osorio, Kyle Bekker and Emery Welshman. Impact had three with Patrice Bernier, Maxim Tissot, and Karl Ouimette. I've watched Morgan, Henry, Osorio, Tissot and Ouimette develop over the years watching the Canadian Soccer League. Tonight's starting goalies were backups Stefan Frei for TFC (lost his place because of injury and Joe Bendik's hot start) and Evan Bush for the Impact. Usual starters Bendik and Impact's Troy Perkins were not even on the subs bench tonight. TFC's back up goalie was another Canadian--Quillan Roberts.

The line ups were like an MLS Reserves game. Only Ryan Richter and Justin Braun were starters on last Saturday's game against Houston. This Saturday TFC is at home for an afternoon game against New York Red Bulls and there will be a Reserves game after that.

Stefan Frei had very little to do except catch a few crosses. The official stats don't award a single Impact shot as being on target.

TFC defender Ryan Richter was a threat with his long throw-ins into the Impact box.

The 2-0 result was a huge result for Toronto. They play in Montreal next Wednesday and the Impact must win by two goals or even more if TFC scores again because of the away goal rule. I'd keep the TFC lineup intact because the Canadians on the team certainly played inspired tonight getting a chance for playing time. TFC has taken the first step in retaining the Canadian Championship for the 5th year in a row. I helped pay for the Voyageurs Cup when the organizers were asking for donations years ago. I did not notice until halftime that behind me were flags four special flags flying for each year's championship.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.co

Major Events

Goals and Assists
TOR   49'  Doneil Henry
TOR   81'  Andrew Wiedeman (Luis Silva)

Match Info
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Attendance: 

Disciplinary
MTL  55'  Calum Mallace   Foul    YELLOW
TOR  84'  Andrew Wiedeman Dissent YELLOW 

Match Stats
Toronto FC                 Montreal Impact
  16     Attempts on Goal         4
   6     Shots on Target          0
   5     Shots off Target         2
   5     Blocked Shots            2
   9     Corner Kicks             2
  11     Fouls                   13
  12     Open Play Crosses       14
   2     Offsides                 2
   1     First Yellow Cards       1
   0     Second Yellow Cards      0
   0     Red Cards                0
  60     Duels Won               54
  52%    Duels Won %             47%
 333     Total Pass             383
  72%    Passing Accuracy %      75%
  46.7%  Possession              53.3%

TFC starters