Toronto FC – Montreal Impact
Amway Canadian Championship
Wednesday, April 24, 7:30pm (ET)
BMO Field
TV: TVA Sports, Sportsnet
Also available on: illico mobile, illico web
Viewing party: Burgundy Lion
TORONTO, Ontario – The Montreal Impact plays its opening game of the 2013 Amway Canadian Championship this Wednesday at 7:30pm (ET) against Toronto FC at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. The game will be broadcast live on TVA Sports and Sportsnet, or you can get live updates using the Impact mobile app or by following @impactmontreal on twitter.
Preview: Evan Bush set to start
Head-to-Head
The Impact and Toronto FC have already played in regular season action in 2013. The Impact won the first matchup of the year 2-1 at Olympic Stadium back on March 16. Designated Player Marco Di Vaio and midfielder Patrice Bernier scored in the win.
In Canadian Championship play, the Impact has never beaten TFC, losing six games and tying two, including a 0-0 draw in Montreal and a 2-0 loss in Toronto in last year’s edition of the tournament.
Impact news
The Impact is coming off of a 10-day break, having played to a 1-1 draw in its last matchup on Saturday, April 13, at Stade Saputo against the Columbus Crew. Di Vaio scored his third goal in four games to help the Impact earn a point.
This game will mark the first of a six-game stretch to be played in just 18 days for the team.
The Impact currently has the best road record in MLS with two wins and one loss in three regular season matches.
Matteo Ferrari has not traveled to Toronto due to an injury to his left calf, while newcomer Daniele Paponi received his International transfer certificate and will be available for the game. Goalkeeper Evan Bush will start his first game in 2013.
Preview: Schällibaum (FR)
Toronto FC news
TFC is undefeated in its last four games, all draws, including matchups with the two top teams in the Western Conference - the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas.
Toronto FC played to a heartbreaking 1-1 draw last Saturday at home against a Houston Dynamo side that scored the equalizer in the 94th minute, despite having played a man down for the last 30 minutes of the game. It is the third time this season that Toronto conceded a late equalizer.
English striker Robert Earnshaw is tied for second in league scoring with five goals. Former Impact forward Justin Braun has a goal and an assist in three appearances for TFC this season.
US defender Gale Agbossoumonde has started the last three games for TFC at centre back, playing all 90 minutes in each game since returning from injury, while recently acquired defender Ryan Richter, from the Charleston Battery of the USL Pro, made his first start of the season last weekend.
Preview: Bernier (FR)
Amway Canadian Championship
The tournament decides Canada’s representative in the next CONCACAF Champions League. In the other semi-final of the tournament, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC face Edmonton FC. The home-and-away final series matches will then be played on May 15 and 29.
Through the first five editions of the Amway Canadian Championship, the Montreal Impact was the inaugural champion in 2008, with TFC winning the tournament from 2009 to 2012.
Upcoming games
The return match of this aggregate goal series will take place at Stade Saputo, next Wednesday, May 1, at 7:30pm (ET).
Meanwhile, the Impact will host the Chicago Fire in league play this Saturday at 4pm (ET) at Stade Saputo. Exceptionally for that game, students can purchase tickets at a discount of 15% in presale.
Single game tickets for all of the team’s home games are available via the Admission network (admission.com / 1-855-790-1245) or via the Stade Saputo ticket office (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm).
