Canadian MLS Squads Close Out Regular Season

The Montreal Impact and Toronto FC play their last games of the year this weekend, while Vancouver will use Saturday’s game as a postseason primer. The Whitecaps, the first Canadian team to ever advance to the MLS playoffs, have a date with the Los Angeles Galaxy set for next week.

New England Revolution at Montreal Impact

The Impact may not be heading to the postseason, but they still have something to play for in their home finale. Montreal is 12-15-6 this year and is in seventh place in the East with 42 points, putting the Impact level with Vancouver 11-13-9 (42 points). That puts the Montreal and Vancouver in a dead heat for the No. 1 seed in next year’s Amway Canadian Championship. “For us to come in as a first-year team in the league and finish with the most points out of any Canadian team would obviously be very good,” Impact captain Davy Arnaud told reporters. “It’ll give us a little bit of an advantage going into the Canadian championship next year, so that’s our focus for Saturday’s game.” The Impact have had an excellent inaugural season and have been extremely tough at home. Montreal is 10-3-3 at Saputo Stadium and is riding an eight-game unbeaten streak at home. New England is terrible on the road and the Impact will play hard to send their fans home happy. Final score: Montreal 2, New England 0.

Toronto FC at Columbus Crew

The only good news for Toronto FC supporters is that this is the last game of a terrible season. FC’s CONCACAF Champions League hopes were dashed earlier this week in a 1-0 loss to Mexico’s Santos Laguna. Toronto sits last in the MLS standings and will axe its season ticket prices for next year. Whether that brings supporters back remains to be seen. FC is riding a 0-9-4 skid in MLS play and won’t have an easy time with Columbus either. Final score: Columbus 2, Toronto 0.

Vancouver Whitecaps at Real Salt Lake

Vancouver backed into its playoff berth last weekend, dropping a 1-0 decision to Portland before Dallas’ loss pushed the Whitecaps through. While they’ll take a playoff spot anyway they can get it, they’re looking to rebound with a better effort on Saturday. “Guys have to look within themselves and find out how much they want these types of things,” defender Jay DeMerit told reporters. “You can ‘hoo rah’ in the dressing room, but when it comes down to it, it’s about guys taking responsibility for their jobs and making sure they do them. I’m excited to see how we respond.” Final score: Whitecaps 1, Real Salt Lake 1.