Toronto down Montreal to reach MLS Cup final
TORONTO, Canada
(AFP) — Toronto FC became the first Canadian club to reach Major League Soccer’s championship game here Wednesday after overpowering Montreal Impact 5-2 in a seven-goal thriller after extra-time.
Toronto, who had trailed 3-0 in last week’s first leg in Montreal before recovering to score two crucial away goals, will now host the Seattle Sounders in the MLS Cup final on December 10.
A pulsating duel at a rainswept BMO Field was effectively settled in the first half of extra-time, when goals from Benoit Cheyrou and Tosaint Ricketts put Toronto 5-2 ahead on the night, 7-5 on aggregate.
The defeat marked the final chapter of Didier Drogba’s MLS career. The former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star is leaving Montreal in the close season.
The extra-time drama came after an action-packed 90 minutes which saw Montreal take a 1-0 lead 4-2 — on aggregate with a swift — counter-attacking goal midway through the first half.
Patrice Bernier outmuscled Toronto’s U.S. international captain Michael Bradley near halfway and quickly released Matteo Mancosu, who in turn picked out Dominic Oduro.
The veteran Ghanaian striker darted into the box and tucked away a low finish past Clint Irwin.
Toronto, however, were handed a lifeline on 37 minutes when a Sebastian Giovinco corner was met with a powerful header by Nick Hagglund.
Hernan Bernadello cleared off the line but only as far as Armando Cooper who lashed home the rebound.
Cooper might have had a penalty moments later, when he rounded Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush. But instead of going to ground Cooper stayed on his feet and penalty appeals were waved away by referee Jair Marrufo.
On the stroke of half-time, though, Toronto took the lead, and again it came from a setpiece, Giovinco curling an outswinging corner to the near post where an unmarked Jozy Altidore glanced in a firm header.
“It’s fantastic,” Altidore said of Toronto’s run to the title match — a first for a club that until this year had never notched a playoff win in its 10-year existence. “It’s all for the fans. They’ve suffered a long time.