Montreal has 1-0 lead on Toronto FC ahead of game at BMO Field
TORONTO, Ontario – The Montreal Impact will look to claim its 10th Voyageurs Cup when it takes on Toronto FC at BMO Field, Wednesday night at 7:30pm (985sports.ca) for the return leg of the Canadian Championship final. Montreal has a 1-0 lead after the first leg thanks to a Nacho Piatti goal at Stade Saputo, last Wednesday.
“We have a plan in place against Toronto,” said Impact head coach Wilmer Cabrera. “Is it going to be difficult? Of course. It’s a final, and they’re a good team, playing at home. We have a good plan, and hopefully we can execute it. Whether or not they have the ball more, we need to be able to make the difference when we attack. This is a final and there’s always a little more tension in these types of games, but we have to play when we have the ball.”
Repeating 2008 exploit
The Impact’s task is clear before this matchup in the Queen City: Montreal needs a win, a tie, or a loss by one goal with at least one Impact goal to lift the trophy. In case of a 1-0 Toronto victory, the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.
But it’s a difficult task that presents itself to Wilmer Cabrera’s men: in the Canadian Championship since joining MLS, the Impact has just one positive result on TFC territory, a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the 2014 final. Montreal, however, has already won the Voyageurs Cup in hostile territory: in 2008, in the first edition of the Canadian Championship, the club, in the second division at the time, drew 1-1 against the Reds, who were already in MLS, and celebrated their cup win in front of Toronto’s supporters.
“I’m dreaming of lifting this cup,” said Impact defender Bacary Sagna. “She’s a beauty too. I want to win it. A cup is a cup and gives us the opportunity to play in the Champions League. It’s a very serious game. It’s a defining game for us and a very important game for the club. It’s also going to be a great game, because on top of everything, it remains a derby, something we shouldn’t forget. It would be great to win the cup over there.”
Two travelworn teams
Both the Impact and Toronto FC travelled to California this weekend. While Montreal lost its game 2-1 to the LA Galaxy, leaving Designated Player Nacho Piatti , striker Maxi Urruti, and midfielder Bojan in Montreal, Toronto played to a 1-1 draw against LAFC, starting all three of their Designated Players in Michael Bradley, Alejandro Pozuelo, and Jozy Altidore, who also all featured in last Wednesday’s game at Stade Saputo.
Piatti will want to continue giving the Reds nightmares by adding to his 11 goals and seven assists in 18 games against TFC. Bojan, on his end, scored his only Impact goal against TFC, at BMO Field, in the last MLS game between both teams.
Saphir Taïder, on his end, will be suspended for the second leg due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
“It’s not something I take lightly, and I don’t look at it as just another game,” said Impact defender Daniel Lovitz. “This competition means a lot to me. This is my sixth year playing in the Canadian Championship. We want to win, that’s a given, but to win against them means more. I want to win every time we face them. The results against them have been tough this year, but the last one is something to build on and I think it’s a good platform. It’s just about who wants to win more. That’s it. That’s the only thing that will determine the result.”
Upcoming games
The Impact has just two games left in the 2019 MLS regular season. The next one is on Sunday, September 29, at 5pm at Stade Saputo against Atlanta United (TICKETS – TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5, TSN 690) and will be preceded by an IMFC Tailgate between Stade Saputo and the Olympic Stadium as of 1pm, where foodtrucks, a DJ, animations and more await. Montreal will finally put an end to its regular season on Sunday, October 6, when the New York Red Bulls visit Stade Saputo (TICKETS – TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5, TSN 690).
