Soccer: Toronto Spoil Party for Impact

The Reds are finally awake and it only took half the season to make it happen. Al Dannity examines Toronto FC’s stunning 3-0 win over the Montreal Impact and looks ahead to the prospects for both of these Canadian teams this weekend in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Play angry
Paul Mariner has succeeded in getting Toronto FC fired up early on in games. Closing the deal has proven a challenge for the basement club in MLS. Houston and New England both clawed back two-goal deficits to deny Mariner’s charges wins but the Reds would not be denied in Saputo Stadium.

This 3-0 beat-down wasn’t in the script. It was Marco Di Vaio’s debut for the Impact. The high-priced Italian superstar was expected to aid a Montreal attack that had already succeeded in finding the net four times in two games at their new home. Instead it was the visitors who took charge. After a scoreless first half, Torsten Frings put the Reds in front on 52 minutes from a free kick. The home side pressed forward in search of an equalizer but Ryan Johnson extended the Reds’ lead on 72 minutes. Danny Koevermans finished the rout 6 minutes later, with Ashtone Morgan laying on the assist for Toronto’s third goal.

This was the kind of performance fans in Toronto have been waiting for. Now in their sixth year, Toronto FC has yet to make the playoffs in MLS. This is an epic level of under-achievement, not just in MLS but in top level sport across the US and Canada. Mariner can’t realistically hope to turn the Reds into contenders this season but he could yet build a platform to give Toronto a shot at the post-season in 2013. The first step is this Saturday.

Weekend prospects
The Reds are now on 8 points, still the worst record in MLS but enough to be within touching distance of moving off the basement. The next-worst record is held by Philadelphia Union but a home win over New York Red Bulls could tie Toronto with the Union on 11 points. Like Toronto, the Red Bulls have lost just once over their last five games but New York is contending for first place in the Eastern Conference. I expect a tough test for the Reds at BMO Field.

The Impact hit the road to take on DC United. The Eastern Conference leaders saw their winning streak snapped by the Red Bulls last time out. The Impact could be in for a nasty shock on the road against a team looking to take out its frustrations.

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