Yes, exactly one week after the Impact left it all on the field in the Champions League finals, the qualification process for the tournament - this time for the 2016/17 edition - begins all over again with the semifinal series of the Amway Canadian Championship opening at Stade Saputo this Wednesday night at 7:30pm.
And who better to kick things off with than rivals Toronto FC, who the Impact beat in last year’s final to win the Voyageurs Cup for a second consecutive year.
However, this is not the same Reds side that collapsed out of a playoff spot towards the end of last season. Here are three things you need to know about revamped TFC:
The club has become known as a revolving door for star players in recent years, dumping 2012 leading goal scorer Danny Koevermans (9) for Robert Earnshaw (8) in 2013, then bringing in ‘It’s a bloody big deal” Jermaine Defoe and his 11 goals in 2014. However, the Reds may have finally got it right after he, along with fellow DP Gilberto, was cut loose this season in favour of Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, who each already have four goals in seven games played in 2015.
You can expect TFC to rest some of its big name players with a busy month of May ahead - eight total games including a friendly against Manchester City – on Wednesday night. Head coach Greg Vanney hinted that only one DP will be making the trip to la belle province.
Wednesday’s matchup will be the eighth consecutive road game for Toronto, having played all seven of its MLS games away from BMO Field as the stadium was being expanded. Considering how difficult it is to get points on the road in Major League Soccer, TFC’s 3-4-0 record is a decent start to its 2015 campaign.
