The Seattle Sounders booked their spot in the MLS Cup final on Sunday afternoon. Their opponent will now be determined on Wednesday night.
Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact collide on Wednesday as the two battle to become the first Canadian club to reach MLS Cup. A TFC win would see the club host the league’s ultimate game, while the Impact are playing for the right to travel to CenturyLink Field for a clash with the Sounders.
Entering Wednesday’s match, the Impact have a slight advantage following a 3-2 first leg win. However, with two away goals, and in front of their home crowd, TFC is very much alive in what is expected to be a back-and-forth affair.
The SBI staff will be offering updates and analysis in the comments section below, so feel free to follow along, and as always, please feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions below.
Enjoy the action.
Remember when Venegas who has 1 goal this season just embarrassed the US back line. How did that happen again?
BIG STRONG Alti
Second half is underway.
GOAL MONTREAL AND THE IMPACT ARE BACK IN THE LEAD! An absolute mess of a goal. Good work from Piatti to get in behind, and he’s tripped in the box. Looks like he pokes it as he falls, and it trickles past Irwin and in. Ugly goal, but the Impact will take it. 2-2 on the day, 5-4 on aggregate, and there goes TFC’s away goals advantage.
Game has definitely slowed down, which is totally to the Impact’s favor. TFC not able to get things moving. Very chippy, methodical. Ricketts coming on, though. Should change things a bit.
GOAL TFC! HAGGLUND! WHAT A GAME! 3-2 now in Toronto, and this has game of the year written all over it. Great header from Hagglund, and Impact caught on another set piece. All tied up on aggregate.
It’s Drogba time at BMO Field. In for Mancosu.
BLOCK FROM CIMAN! Giovinco plays in Ricketts but Ciman gets down to block it. Bush follows it up with a HUGE save on Altidore. TFC pushing for it.
EXTRA TIME! Finishes 3-2 in regular time, and we’re heading for extra time. What a series. One of the best I can remember.
Giovinco coming off with an injury. Cheyrou coming in. Don’t even need to say this, but huge loss for TFC.
GOAL TFC! Unreal. Cheyrou scores SECONDS after coming on. Advantage TFC.
GOAL RICKETTS! That has to be it, right? TFC up two now. ALtidore barrels through the defense and feeds Ricketts for a sliding finish.
Which team do you think matches up better against Seattle? And why?
Seattle definitely hoping for Montreal here. Even aside from hosting, think the Sounders could handle Impact counter and midfield. TFC attack is just too scary. Could see Sounders defenders struggling against in-form Altidore, Giovinco.
Fun half of soccer. If TFC can keep this urgency on offense they could Jill off major chunks of clock in this second half. MTL seem to want to rely on speedy counter a lot. Biggest question is can TFC weather the storm
ANOTHER ONE….. THEY DONT WANT HIM TO SCORE…..
Well he didn’t in the qualifiers
Thanks for this Ryan!
Halftime, and what a half it was. Crazy good game, and TFC is up, 2-1. Lots of time left. Drogba perhaps?
Any questions during the half? Shoot them my way.
Following a pretty incredible national anthem, the crowd is ready to go. Kickoff, and we’re underway in Toronto.
Early look for TFC as Bradley wiggles through the defense. His pass is JUST behind Giovinco, though, and Bush collects.
WHAT A TACKLE FROM DONADEL! Loose ball in the box following a long ball to Altidore, and Giovinco darts towards it. Donadel makes a perfect slide tackle in the box, and the ball is cleared.
Yellow card to Ciman for ripping down Altidore. Definitely something to watch, although one would think he’s enough of a veteran to play this intelligently.
Cooper down for an extended period of time. Definitely a concern for TFC. Looks like he’s coming back to play, though.
Wow. Scary collision in the midfield and both Bernardello and ALtidore are down. Both teams upset. ALtidore up, but Bernardello definitely took the worst of it.
Will Johnson goes for a bicycle kick, but it’s over the bar. Have to applaud the effort, though. 0-0 in the 19th minute.
Chance for TFC as Morrow is onside as he tries to square one to Altidore. A bit too unselfish, and it’s cleared away.
GOAL ODURO! Pinpoint pass from Mancosu finds Oduro, who is in all alone. Takes a touch before sliding it past Irwin and Impact are now VERY much in the driver’s seat. 1-0 on the day, 4-2 on aggregate.
This game is crazy physical. Johnson with the latest big hit, and Cabrera is down. Marrufo has a tough task ahead of him in keeping this thing sane.
GOAL COOPER! Game on. Absolute scramble in front of goal, and Cooper gets there to bring TFC within one. Corner in from Giovinco and the initial shot is saved off the line. Cooper is there, though, and it’s 1-1 on the night.
GOAL ALTIDORE AND THE ADVANTAGE SWINGS BACK TO TFC! Fifth consecutive game with a goal for Altidore, who is on FIRE. Corner in from Giovinco and Altidore is left with an open flick to the near post. 2-1 TFC on the day, 4-4 on aggregate, but TFC up on away goals.
Hey all. I’ll be here all night to discuss tonight’s match. Should be a fun one. Here are tonight’s lineups:
Toronto FC: Irwin; Beitashour, Zavaleta, Moor, Hagglund, Morrow; Cooper, Bradley, Johnson; Giovinco, Altidore
Montreal Impact: Bush; Camara, Cabrera, Ciman, Oyongo; Bernier, Donadel, Bernardello; Oduro, Mancosu, Piatti