A fierce 401 rivalry, a rain-soaked second leg and a whipsaw series of scores – Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact set an MLS record for a two-game aggregate series, with 12 goals – finally crescendoed with Toronto FC scoring twice in the first 10 minutes of extra time to reach MLS Cup 2016.
Following Wednesday's wild 5-2 Leg 2 victory – and 7-5 aggregate win – TFC will host Seattle Sounders FC on Dec.10 (8pm ET; FOX, UniMás | TSN, RDS in Canada) at BMO Field. It will be the first appearance in the domestic final for each team: Toronto entered the league in 2007; Seattle followed in 2009. It will also mark the first time an MLS original franchise will not compete for MLS Cup.
Opportunity offered one of TFC's subs the chance to star, when a calf cramp sent Sebastian Giovinco to the sidelines in the 97th minute. Benoit Cheyrou stepped on the field and headed home the game-winning goal in the 98th. Tosaint Ricketts sealed it two minutes after that, following an astounding hold-up effort by Jozy Altidore.
The Impact broke through first, absorbing waves of pressure to convert a perfectly played counter. Patrice Bernier won a 50-50 ball, hit Matteo Mancosu upfield in space, where the Italian striker drove at the back line, finding a pocket between five defenders to slip a ball through to Dominic Oduro, whose cool finish put Toronto on its heels.
But in the 37th minute, Sebastian Giovinco put a corner kick on Nick Hagglund's head. And though Impact defender Hernan Bernardello cleared it off the line, Armando Cooper was there to gather and put the rebound past goalkeeper Evan Bush.
Just before the half, Altidore and Giovinco freelanced – chatting and then changing a corner kick call – resulting in a low line drive that Altidore angled past Bush with a full-speed header as he crossed in front of Mancosu.
Montreal stunned the home crowd early in the second half, when halftime sub Johan Venegashit star midfielder Ignacio Piatti as he split the defense. Piatti angled a shot to the right, but it deflected off a TFC defender, catching Clint Irwin wrong-footed as the ball trickled across the goal line for an equalizer.
A short corner give-and-go from Cooper to Justin Morrow and back set up a Hagglund header that again put Toronto ahead, and locked the aggregate score at 5, forcing extra time.
More to come …
Box Score
- 24' – MTL – Dominic Oduro (Matteo Mancosu)
- 37' – TOR – Armando Cooper
- 45' – TOR – Jozy Altidore (Sebastian Giovinco)
- 53' – MTL – Ignacio Piatti (Johan Venegas)
- 68' – TOR – Nick Hagglund (Justin Morrow)
- 98' – TOR – Benoit Cheyrou (Steven Beitashour)
- 100' – TOR – Tosaint Ricketts (Jozy Altidore)
- Full Box Score
- Stats
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