October 18, 2014 MLS--Toronto FC vs Montreal Impact (by Rocket Robin)

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Result of the Saturday October 18, 2014 MLS game between Toronto FC and Montreal Impact played at BMO Field in Toronto at 2:00pm.

Toronto FC (all red, white names and numbers)

.......................12 Joseph Bendik
28 Mark Bloom...13 Steven Caldwell (cpt)...15 Doneil Henry...2 Justin Morrow
11 Jackson...21 Jonathan Osorio...26 Collen Warner...3 Warren Creavalle
............27 Luke Moore...9 Gilberto

Subs:...1 Chris Konopka (gk)...5 Ashtone Morgan (def)...8 Kyle Bekker (mid)...14 Dwayne De Rosario (mid)...16 Bradley Orr (def)
...23 Dominic Oduro (fwd)...35 Daniel Lovitz (mid)
team officials:...head coach Greg Vanney

Montreal Impact (all blue, white names and numbers)

.......................30 Chad Bush
6 Hassoun Camara...13 Matteo Ferrari...16 Calum Mallace...3 Eric Miller
15 Andres Romero...7 Felipe Martins...8 Patrice Bernier (cpt)...44 Heath Pearce
.................99 Jack McInerney...11 Dilly Duka

Subs:...40 Maxime Crepeau (gk)...9 Marco DiVaio (fwd)...17 Issey Nakajima-Farran (mid)...23 Drzysztof Krol (def)...28 Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare (mid)
...51 Maxim Tissot (def)...98 Mamadou Danso (def)
team officials:...head coach Frank Klopas

Game officials:...referee Baldomero Toledo...referee's assistants Greg Barkey and Gianni Facchini...fourth official Geoff Gamble
...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

Before the game Michael Bradley was presented with MLSE's October community award for his charity work. The Toronto FC Academy (whom I had seen just hours earlier at the KIA Centre in a League 1 Ontario Cup semi-final game) came to the side of the field to accept applause for winning the League 1 Ontario League championship. There was a video tribute to the fans.

1st Half:...game starts 2:08pm...TFC defend south end on this cold and overcast afternoon with a strong wind from the north.
3 min...TFC Morrow throw-in from left bounces into box and Imp Bernier clears ball.
4 min...TFC Henry slides and knocks ball from 28 yards on left back to goalie to keep Imp Romero from getting to it.
4 min...Imp YELLOW card...Camara earns it for sliding tackle on TFC Gilberto at center line.
7 min...Imp Felipe on left crosses from 20 yards off TFC Bloom for cornerkick on left.
7 min...Imp Romero cornerkick from left has Imp player duck and ball bounces out for throw-in on right.
10 min...Imp Duka passes from middle to right for charging Imp Romero who blasts 30 yard shot well high and wide right of net.
12 min...Imp goalie races out of box to slide and clear at 20 yards in front of TFC Jackson who falls over him injured.
14 min...TFC Osorio at 15 yards on left clears Imp Bernier cross into box from 25 yards on right.
14 min...Imp Bernier passes low from right to Imp Duka who holds up on his dribble and chips pass forward from 35 yards for Imp Romero who runs forward and gets to ball on end line and taps ball back for Imp McInerney who blasts 12 yard shot that defender blocks and Imp Duda blasts shot up middle from 25 yards and TFC Caldwell flies over to head ball at 10 yards wide right for cornerkick.
15 min...Imp Romero cornerkick from right bounces through and out of box.
16 min...Imp McInerney high cross from 25 yards on right has TFC Bloom clear at 12 yards on left side of box.
17 min...TFC Henry makes key header on edge of TFC box to prevent Imp break-in.
17 min...TFC Morrow cross from 30 yards on left is caught by goalie on left post.
19 min...TFC Warren Creavalle GOAL...TFC Mark Bloom throw-in from 30 yard line on right bounces for TFC Jackson to flick up backheel at 28 yards on right and TFC Luke Moore gets ball and his shot from 15 yards on right is blocked by sliding defender. Ball pops up and over to left and Creavalle sidefoots low shot from 15 yards on left into low right side of net beyond diving goalie Chad Bush.
21 min...TFC Jackson 25 yard shot low shot from right is stopped by defender at 18 yards. TFC Moore skies 22 yard rebound from left well over net.
22 min...Imp Duka in middle has TFC Caldwell check him off ball on edge of box. Imp Felipe follows up with shot down middle from 18 yards that rolls wide right of post.
23 min...TFC Warner cornerkick from right has defender head away at 10 yards.
26 min...Imp Miller centers pass from 35 yards on left and Imp McInerney from slight left blasts 28 yard shot up middle that's wide right.
27 min...Imp Felipe at 15 yards in middle has shot blocked by sliding TFC Caldwell and Imp McInerney rebound from 18 yards on left is wide left for goalkick.
28 min...TFC Gilberto cuts about twice and flubs shot to send 22 yard roller that goalie picks up near right post.
29 min...TFC Bloom cross from 25 yards on far right is headed through box by Imp Mallace at 12 yards in middle of box. TFC Creavalle gains possession and runs forward to left end line and rolls ball through 6 yard box that is just a step ahead of TFC Osorio in front of him.
31 min...TFC Warner 22 yard freekick along right endline is well over players in box. TFC Morrow cross from 25 yards on left has Imp Camara head away at 8 yards on left.
33 min...TFC Warner 35 yard freekick from left is tipped wide left by defender for cornerkick.
34 min...TFC Warner cornerkick from left has Imp Mallace head away at 12 yards even with left post.
35 min...TFC Bloom rush on right wing and crosses from 25 yards that has TFC Moore running down middle head ball from 12 yards that Imp Ferrari heads ball away at 4 yards.
36 min...TFC Gilberto rolls pass from near right endline behind TFC players rushing into box and defenders clear.
38 min...TFC Moore near left end line rolls 12 yard cross through 6 yard box that Imp Pearce kicks away at 5 yards. Moore is injured on the play.
38 min...Imp Felipe GOAL...Imp Patrice Bernier from 60 yards on right chips through ball forward and left for charging Imp Andres Romero on bounce and stops at 18 yards on left as TFC Bloom covers him. He centers rolled pass and Felipe following in blasts 18 yarder down middle just a split second before TFC Doneil Henry slides to block and ball is into high right side of net past goalie Joe Bendik. Imp Jack McInerney who had run forward and was offside stayed away from play.
42 min...TFC Henry at 22 yards on right heads ball back to goalie to relieve pressure.
45 min...Imp Mallace 28 yard freekick from slight right is off head of TFC Henry at 17 yards in player wall.
46 min...half ends 2:54pm.

Halftime Entertainment: There's the usual pizza slice and Drumstick ice cream giveaway. Also a Scott's Lawn Lounge seat upgrade. There was the KIA Challenge which was four people each wearing a costume that made them look like soccer balls with legs. There was one net and always one less ball than contestant so it was somewhat like musical chairs in that whichever contestant didn't score was eliminated. Loopyball is easier because at least you can see what you're doing.

2nd Half:...starts 3:11pm.
45 min...TFC Morrow throw-in from left is past fallen TFC Gilberto and over end line for goalkick.
47 min...TFC Warner two low crosses from left edge of box have defenders clear.
47 min...TFC Morrow wins cornerkick on cross from 20 yards along left endline deflects off Imp Bernier .
48 min...TFC Warner cornerkick from left has goalie catch ball overhead at 1 yard left post.
49 min...Imp McInerney rolls ball into box from right and defender clears easily.
51 min...Imp goalie gets ball back on kick into wind that holds up for TFC Gilberto to head from 30 yards forward that bounces to him.
52 min...TFC Morrow cross from 35 yards on left blows forward for goalie to catch on bounce.
52 min...Imp Felipe cross from 30 yards on left has Imp McInerney charge forward to knock down and 8 yard shot hits top of bar and deflects over for goalkick.
53 min...Imp Felipe passes down middle from 35 yards to charging Imp McInerney and TFC goalie charges forward to slide and block then smother ball.
54 min...Imp YELLOW card...Ferrari earns it for sliding tackle on TFC Gilberto at Imp 28 yard line.
55 min...TFC Warner 35 yard freekick from left is wide right and bounces for goalkick before charging players can get to it.
56 min...TFC sub...De Rosario replaces Creavalle.
57 min...Imp Bernier threads pass to Imp McInerney but TFC Bloom checks him off ball at 15 yards.
59 min...Imp Bernier 30 yard freekick from left has Imp Camara head ball across box and Imp McInerney heads ball at 15 yards forward that TFC Warner chests down and TFC fast break for TFC De Rosario who runs to center line and rolls through ball pass forward on left that goalie beats TFC Gilberto to ball on left edge of box.
60 min...TFC Morrow cross near left endline has Imp Ferrari head away at 15 yards on left side of box for throw-in on left.
61 min...Imp Mallace flips chip ball from 35 yards on right is into box and Imp Felipe stops ball bouncing over end line and TFC Caldwell clears on second attempt.
63 min...Imp McInerney survives TFC Bloom bump in box and rolls pass back to Imp Felipe and his shot from 12 yards is blocked on left side of box and TFC players clear.
64 min...Imp Mallace at 30 yards on left rolls cross into box has TFC Bloom slides to clear at 8 yards Warner slide to stop preventing charging Imp player from getting to open shot on net.
65 min...Imp Felipe on left sends in long cross that has TFC Henry head ball away at 10 yards on left preventng shot on net.
66 min...Imp McInerney cross from 22 yards on left after run down wing has TFC Jackson slide to deflect ball behind end line for cornerkick.
67 min...Imp work out short cornerkick and ball is sent back for Imp Felipe to blast 25 yarder from left that flying goalie bats wide right of post. Imp Pearce scissor kick of goalie's clearance from 10 yards on right is sent well over net.
67 min...TFC sub...Bekker replaces Warner.
68 min...TFC De Rosario low cross from left has Imp Miller at 4 yards in middle kick ball over end line on left for cornerkick.
69 min...TFC Osario cornerkick from left has Imp goalie drift wide right of net and palm ball over end line preventing TFC Gilberto getting to it.
69 min...TFC Bekker cornerkick from right has TFC Gilberto has 6 yards on left heads ball wide right of post.
72 min...Imp Mallace 30 yard freekick from right has Imp McInerney charge forward up middle and flick header from 10 yards wide left of post.
72 min...Imp sub...Nakajima-Farran replaces Duka.
74 min...Imp Romero low cornerkick from left is back to Imp Miller at 25 yards on left who rolls cross for Imp Bernier kicking 30 yarder from right that flies wide left of net.
75 min...TFC Bekker cornerkick from left has Imp McInerney charge towards corner and head ball away on left side of box and Henry gets up to run it out right side of box.
76 min...Imp McInerney rushing for through ball pass is knocked over on sliding tackle by TFC Henry on right side of box while trying to control pass.
77 min...TFC De Rosario cross from 25 yards on left has TFC Gilberto scissor kick cross attempt pop up at 4 yards near right end line and goalie catches.
78 min...Imp sub...Di Vaio replaces McInerney.
78 min...Imp Bernier chips from 35 yards forward and to right where Imp Nakajima-Farran low cross from 20 yards along end line has TFC Caldwell clear.
79 min...TFC sub...Oduro replaces Bloom.
79 min...TFC Gilberto rush on left and cross to TFC Oduro who shoots 6 yarder that Imp Miller slides at 3 yards to block and ball pops up and Imp Mallace heads wide right of net for cornerkick.
80 min...TFC Bekker high cornerkick from right has TFC Caldwell head across box from left and TFC Osorio scissor kick after whistle 7 yarder into net. Play had been whistled down for pushing in box so the goal didn't count.
81 min...Imp sub...Tissot replaces Romero.
81 min...Imp RED card...Heath Pearce earns a direct ejection for sliding check on TFC Dominic Oduro although he's not the last man back at Imp 33 yard line.
82 min...TFC Gilberto 35 yard freekick from slight left angle has goalie dive and push ball wide left of post.
83 min...TFC Jackson cornerkick from left is worked out and cross into box from 25 yards has Imp goalie try to make overhead catch at 3 yards while even with left post but pops ball up and over to right side of box and defender sky balls a clearance from 2 yards and goalie grabs it on right end line.
85 min...TFC Henry chips pass forward on right for TFC De Rosario who from 8 yards blasts shot well over net.
86 min...TFC Gilberto is injured with hand to face from Imp Ferrari passing a backheeler centering pass to TFC De Rosario who sides to connect on 10 yard shot that's blocked by defender.
87 min...TFC YELLOW card...Jackson earns it for jumping and bashing into Imp Miller while running down sideline at Imp 25 yard line.
89 min...Imp YELLOW card...Goalie Evan Bush earns it for time wasting on freekick he was ready to kick at Imp 40 yard line.
90 min...Imp Mallace 25 yard freekick from right is low and away from box to Imp Felipe who shoots low 22 yarder though players that goalie sprawls and pushes left of post for cornerkick avoiding Imp Di Vaio near that post.
91 min...Imp Di Vaio short cornerkick worked out with Imp Felipe from left and Imp Tissot cross from 35 yards on left has TFC Henry head ball away at 15 yards from center of box.
91 min...TFC goalie long chip upfield from 70 yards is cleared by defender in big crowd of players in Imp box.
92 min...Imp quick freekick up left wing has Imp Nakajima-Farran on 2 on 1 break from 45 yard line. He passes by TFC Caldwell and Imp Di Vaio is in alone at 25 yards on slight right. Di Vaio shot from 15 yards has TFC Bendik get hand to and push wide left and over end line just a few steps ahead of Nakajima-Farran who would have had open net at 5 yards.
92 min...Imp quick cornerkick from left is short and worked out but whistled down for a TFC freekick.
93 min...TFC RED card...Osorio earns a direct ejection for stepping on ankle of Imp Felipe involved in the cornerkick.
.........TFC YELLOW card...Goalie Joe Bendik earns it for picking up injured Imp Felipe and trying to carry him off field.
94 min...Imp RED card...Hassoun Camara earns his second Yellow card of the game for pulling down charging TFC De Rosario at Imp 33 yard line.
.........TFC YELLOW card...De Rosario earns it for kicking Camara in the stomach as he was being pulled down.
95 min...TFC Bekker freekick from 35 yards down middle is just over net.
95 min...game ends 4:01pm.

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

Attendance was announced as 18329 for this cold and windy day. That number was padded by what I'd heard were 1200-1500 travelling Montreal Impact fans. Most of them I noticed sitting in sections 225, 226 and 227. The subway wasn't running on a section of their Yonge line for about the fifth time this season. Today that wasn't a problem for me as I was near the end of the University line as I'd just seen a game in League 1 Ontario this morning near the end of that subway line--with free parking on weekends.

I missed hearing the Man of the Match (who is always a TFC player) if one was announced at all. I would have given it to defender Steven Caldwell as if it hadn't been for him, the Impact could have had three more goals. Caldwell was on today's game program.

Michael Bradley and Nick Hagglund were suspended for this game and Jermain Defoe is still injured. Defoe is the player on today's tickets.

Justin Morrow had long runs and good crosses.

The Impact had good counter attacks. Marco Di Vaio replaced Jack McInerney at 78 minutes but soon the Impact were shorthanded by a Red card but Di Vaio had one great scoring opportunity in injury time that Joe Bendik stopped on a diving save.

TFC pulled out the stops with forward Domenic Oduro replacing defender Mark Bloom at 79 minutes as they pressed for the win. Dwayne De Rosario was brought in at 57 minutes as he's a big fan favourite but he shot over the net and had some passes intercepted in what will probably be his last season in MLS. De Ro has had great success over the Impact in prior years.

There was a battle to pick the winner of the trade between the two teams a few months ago when Collen Warner was traded to TFC and Issey Nakajima-Farran went to the Impact. Warner had the most of the early cornerkick and freekicks today with no Michael Bradley playing. There times never overlapped as Warner was subbed off at 67 minutes while Nakajima-Farran came into the game at 72 minutes.

Referee Baldomero Toledo has a reputation for giving out Red cards but held in check until 81 minutes when he gave out his first and by the time the game ended he'd sent off three players. After a Yellow card at 4 minutes, he gave out no other cards until 54 minutes.

The Toronto FC Academy team was introduced before the game as being the League 1 Ontario champions with an undefeated season and Molham Babouli led the league with 25 goals. That is true but just over two hours earlier, I was up at the KIA Training Centre where Sigma FC knocked them out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage for their first defeat of the season. Babouli did score his 26 goal of the season. TFCA will NOT play in the Cup Final tomorrow being played here at BMO Field at 2:30pm. Both semi-finals were postponed from Thursday because of severe storms that flooded the pitches in North York. The other semi-final between Vaughan Azzurri and Durham United FC will be played tonight at 7:00pm so that doesn't leave much turn around time until the final.

Today's result officially knocks TFC out of the MLS playoffs without having to wait to see if the Columbus Crew lose tomorrow to keep this playoff run limping along. TFC is also out of the CONCACAF Champions League competition gifting the Canadian spot to Vancouver Whitecaps. Now TFC can't sell those two home games in the season ticket renewal package. TFC had a 1% chance of making the playoffs before today's game according to the online site Sports Club Stats.

The first 8000 customers were given toques from KIA Motors. It was very appropriate for this cold day. This year's is mostly gray in colour which is a nice contrast to last year's red one.

After the game, the TFC players threw mini balls at the fans who'd stayed behind which of course meant they went to the south side stands.

There was no "selling" for season ticket renewal this game and today I can't remember any talk about the 2015 mailing list. Construction is underway to add 8000 seats to BMO Field in time for next season.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

stats from MLSsoccer.com

Match Information
MLS at BMO Field
Attendance 18329
Weather Cloudy

Scoring Summary

Goals and Assists
20'   Warren Creavalle 
39'   Felipe Martins         Assisted By: Andrés Romero, Patrice Bernier 

Disciplinary
 5'    Hassoun Camara        YELLOW     Reason: Foul 
55'    Matteo Ferrari        YELLOW     Reason: Foul 
82'    Heath Pearce          RED        Reason: Serious Foul 
88'    Jackson               YELLOW     Reason: Foul 
90'    Evan Bush             YELLOW     Reason: Time wasting 
90'+3' Jonathan Osorio       RED        Reason: Serious Foul 
90'+4' Joe Bendik            YELLOW     Reason: Dissent 
90'+5' Dwayne De Rosario     YELLOW     Reason: Unsporting behaviour 
90'+5' Hassoun Camara        RED        Reason: Foul  (2nd YELLOW)   

Lineups
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; 
D-Hassoun Camara, Heath Pearce, Matteo Ferrari, Eric Miller; 
M-Calum Mallace, Patrice Bernier, Andrés Romero (Maxim Tissot 82’), Dilly Duka (IsseyNakajima-Farran 73’), Felipe; 
F-Jack McInerney (Marco Di Vaio 79’)

Subs not used: GK-Maxime Crépeau; D-Futty Danso, Krzysztof Krol; M-Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé

TOR – GK-Joe Bendik; 
D-Mark Bloom (Dominic Oduro 80’), Steven Caldwell, Doneil Henry, Justin Morrow; 
M-Jackson, Collen Warner (Kyle Bekker 68’), Warren Creavalle (Dwayne De Rosario 57’), Jonathan Osorio; 
F-Luke Moore, Gilberto

Subs not used: GK-Chris Konopka; D-Bradley Orr, Ashtone Morgan; M-Daniel Lovitz

Stats:

Team Statistics

TOR                           MTL
 11     Shots                  18 
  5     Shots on Target         4 
  3     Shots off Target        8 
  3     Blocked Shots           6 
  8     Corners                 7 
 25     Crosses                16 
  1     Offsides                0 
 14     Fouls                  14 
  3     Yellow Cards            2 
  1     Red Cards               2 
356     Total Passes          383 
 72 %   Passing Accuracy       73 % 
 48.7 % Possession             51.3 % 
 39     Duels Won              53 
 13     Tackles Won            26 
  3     Saves                   3 
 10     Clearances             23 

Officials
Referee  Baldomero Toledo 
Assistant Referee  Gregory Barkey 
Assistant Referee  Gianni Facchini 
Fourth Official  Geoff Gamble

Toronto FC starters