CanadaSoccer.com
In this year's second battle of champions, Toronto FC once again came out on top after a 1-0 away victory over Montreal Impact in the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship on Wednesday evening.
TFC claimed all three points in Quebec after Dwayne De Rosario's scored his first goal of the 2010 championship in the 73rd minute. The Impact needed a draw or win to stay alive in the competition, but will now be unable to reach first place in the six-week series.
The Reds remain in first place, now with six points following their second-straight win against the Impact. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (0-1-0) and Impact (0-1-2) both have a single point, although Vancouver still have enough matches to play in their efforts to catch TFC.
Check out stats and standings at canadasoccer.com/championship
Preki's side could clinch the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship as early as next week when they travel to Swangard Stadium for the first of two matches against the Whitecaps. A third win would give Toronto FC nine points and limit Vancouver to a maximum of seven possible points. The Whitecaps will need, at a minimum, a draw when they host TFC on May 19 with a 7:30 p.m. PT kickoff (Rogers Sportsnet East and Rogers Sportsnet West at 8 p.m. PT).
As for Toronto FC's victory over the Impact on Match Day 3, the match had the looks of a 0-0 draw before De Rosario broke the deadlock in the second half. Neither side created much in terms of scoring chances in the first 45 minutes. Then early in the second half, both coaches made changes to their lineups in an effort to spark an attack. The Impact, of course, had much more on the line, needing to maintain a draw or to jump ahead in the standings with a win.
In the 73rd minute, however, Toronto dashed Montreal's hopes, as De Rosario one-timed a rebound past a helpless Matt Jordan in the Impact goal. TFC striker Chad Barrett had controlled the ball on the right side and beat a pair of Montreal defenders before shooting the ball on Jordan. The rebound crossed to the other side of the box, where De Rosario made contact on his rush in on goal.
Toronto FC has won three straight matches in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship dating back to last season. It has an all-time record of five wins and one draw against the Impact in the championship.
As for the starting lineups, the Impact featured Jordan in goal, Stephen deRoux at right back, Nevio Pizzolitto and Hicham Aaboubou at centre back, Philippe Billy at left back, Leonardo Di Lorenzo at left midfield, the former Whitecaps pair of Tony Donatelli and David Testo in central midfield, and Felipe Soares at right midfield. Rocco Placentino and Peter Byers played up front.
Toronto FC, meanwhile, featured Stefan Frei in goal, Maksim Usanov at right back, Nana Attakora and Adrian Cann at centre back, Nick Garcia at left back, Sam Cronin at right midfield, Julian de Guzman and Martin Saric in central midfield, Gabriel Gala at left midfield, and De Rosario and O'Brian White up front.
The 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship runs six consecutive Wednesday nights from April 28 to June 2. The three professional clubs – Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC - play four matches each - two at home and two on the road. The champions claim the Voyageurs Cup and qualification for 2010-11 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League.
