It’s Round 2 between the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC.
National bragging rights will be on the line Wednesday when these two MLS rivals—separated by a mere five-hour drive (if traffic is good)—clash in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final at Montreal’s Stade Saputo.
TFC looked to have everything in control in last week’s first leg at home thanks to a Doniel Henry goal in the 20th minute. The Reds had the momentum, but then Justin Mapp scored a peach of a goal in 73rd minute, and the Impact left town with a 1-1 draw.
Here are five things to keep in mind about Wednesday’s return match.
Wednesday programming alert: Watch Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final live on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World. Coverage begins at 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT. | TV schedule
Montreal holds slight edge
Because they scored a crucial road goal in last week’s 1-1 draw in Toronto, the Impact can claim the championship with a win or a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.
TFC would take the title with a 2-2 draw (or a higher score draw), or a win.
Away goals are the first tiebreaker in the two-game series.
A 1-1 draw in regulation time on Wednesday would force extra time, and a penalty shootout after that.
Who’s hot for Montreal?
Jack McInerney, that’s who.
The 21-year-old forward is Montreal’s top scorer in MLS with three goals in seven appearances—he has two goals in his last three matches, including the winner in the Impact’s 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution last weekend.
Plus, he was dangerous after coming on at the start of the second half of last week’s 1-1 draw in Toronto. After the Impact sleepwalked their way through the first 45 minutes, McInerney’s bright and inventive play helped spark Montreal to life and earn a valuable draw at BMO Field.
That result, plus an impressive win over the Eastern Conference-leading Revolution, has the Impact feeling positive after a dreadful start to the MLS campaign—they currently sit last in the Eastern Conference standings with 10 points and only two wins from 12 games.
“The work we’ve put in the last couple of weeks is really starting to show,” McInerney told reporters after the New England game. “We have a chance on Wednesday to win the Canadian Cup, and after a few good games, things are definitely going in the right direction.”
Who’s hot for Toronto?
He’s been criticized in recent weeks for his defensive gaffes and for conceding penalties. But Canadian defender Doneil Henry is also riding a two-game scoring streak.
Henry found the back of the net in last week’s 1-1 draw versus Montreal. More important, it was his goal deep into injury time that allowed the Reds to earn a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew in MLS play over the weekend.
He also scored in the second leg of the Amway semifinals against the Vancouver Whitecaps last month.
Henry said he hasn’t let his occasional gaffes on the field get the better of him.
“In your career when you have negative days, you can either let it eat at you and be a timid person. Or you can stand up like a man and embrace it and try to better yourself. I’ve worked hard to cut out the mistakes,” Henry told reporters after the Columbus contest.
Warner, Nakajima-Farran ‘cup tied’
Toronto midfielder Collen Warner and Montreal Impact winger Issey Nakajima-Farran can’t play in Wednesday’s game.
And no, they’re not injured.
The Impact traded Warner to TFC last month for Nakajima-Farran. Both already appeared for their former clubs in last month’s semifinals. Rules stipulate, though, that players can’t appear for more than one team in the tournament. So Warner and Nakajima-Farran are “cup tied”—ineligible to play for their new teams in this competition this year.
Coincidentally, it was Nakajima-Farran’s goal in the penalty shootout that sealed a win for TFC over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the semifinals.
Champions League berth at stake
Toronto won four Canadian championships in a row from 2009 to 2012. Montreal won last year and the inaugural competition in 2008. So TFC and the Impact value this tournament. But there’s extra incentive for both teams to go for it on Wednesday.
Not only will the winner claim the Amway Canadian Championship and get to hoist the Voyageurs Cup. But they’ll also serve as the lone Canadian representative in the 2014-15 COCNACAF Champions League.
The draw for the group stage of the continental championship was held last week. The Canadian champion will compete in Group 3 with the New York Red Bulls and Club Deportivo FAS of El Salvador. The winner of the round-robin group advances to the quarterfinals.
