Toronto have won the Eastern Conference finals and will move on to play Seattle in the MLS finals. After a 3-2 loss in Montreal, Toronto came back to win 5-2 at home, amassing a 7-5 aggregate score in a thrilling overtime game.
Montreal opened the scoring with a beautifully worked goal in the 24th minute, with Dominic Oduro finishing brilliantly. Matteo Mancosu received the ball and turned with space in front of the Toronto backline. After running at the TFC box and drawing in 3 defenders, Mancosu slotted the ball wide to Oduro, who took a touch and finished into the far corner.
The goal took the wind out of Toronto, now down 4-2 on aggregate. After a lull period Toronto pulled a goal back from a set piece. Sebastian Giovinco served a perfect ball in for Nick Hagglund who thumped a great header on net. A Montreal player cleared the ball off the line in a thicket of players, however the ball fell to Armando Cooper, who proceeded to roll the ball past Evan Bush in net.
Jozy Altidore gave Toronto the lead in the 45th minute just before halftime from another set piece. Altidore ran past the near post to connect to Giovinco’s corner. Altidore flicked the ball off the top of his head, skipping the ball past Evan Bush at the near post. This might end up being the most technically impressive finish of the night. It is no easy thing to head the ball on target in front of the near post. Altidore couldn’t see the net but was still able to head the ball with pace into the corner.
Ignacio Piatti equalized for Montreal in the 53rd minute with a confusing shot for the Toronto defenders. The Argentine twisted and skipped between three Toronto players, and was eventually able to poke the ball between a defenders legs. The shot deflected on its way through, putting Toronto keeper Clint Irwin off balance as the ball trickled in at the back post.
Toronto got its 3rd goal, and the equalizer on aggregate in the 68th minute through yet another header. Nick Hagglund once again got on the end of the cross after losing his defender near the penalty spot. His powerful header flew past Bush as the Toronto fans celebrated.
The game ended 3-2, 5-5 on aggregate and proceeded to extra time. Montreal looked deflated after a thrilling last 10 minutes in regular time, which saw both teams come close to getting the winner, and some great last gasp defending.
5 minutes into overtime, Toronto star Sebastian Giovinco pulled up after an attempted shot outside the box. He was forced to sub off, with veteran Benoit Cheyrou coming on for the Italian. It ended up being Cheyrou who got the winner for Toronto in the 98th minute. A perfectly place cross from Altidore fell nicely in front of the Montreal goal, and Cheyrou just had to redirect the ball on net.
Tosaint Ricketts extended the lead in the 100th minute where Jozy Altidore turned provider once again. Jozy ran with the ball past Victor Cabrera, and rolled a perfect low cross for Ricketts who just had to tap the ball into the net.
Toronto, after having won its first ever playoff game against the Union early this year, will go on to face Seattle in the MLS final. The game will be played on December 10th, so keep your calendars open for a thrilling final.
