The game in 100 words (or less): At long, long, long last, Toronto FC are, for all intents and purposes, are playoff team. Thanks to their 2-1 victory over the Montreal Impact in the 401 Derby at BMO Field on Saturday, the Reds find themselves up to fourth place and a full nine points clear of the playoff cut line with two additional games in hand on seventh-place New York City FC, who lost yet again Saturday. Against Montreal, Michael Bradley turned in one of his strongest performances of an already-impressive season, scoring the game’s opening goal and playing the biggest of parts in Jozy Altidore’s eventual game-winning goal shortly after halftime. Without Didier Drogba (toe) and Ignacio Piatti in the lineup, Montreal struggled mightily to create quality scoring chances, though their 18 total shots might indicate otherwise. Dominic Oduro pulled one back late for L’Impact, but it was his 7th minute miss (video below) which will be remembered for quite some time. The Impact currently hold down sixth in the Eastern Conference, ahead of NYCFC on tie breaker with four games in hand.
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Three moments that mattered
7' — Oduro’s Miss of the Year candidate on an open-netter — Oh, Dom Oduro. This is bad. Just bad, bad, bad.
35' — Bradley turns home Osorio’s cross to take a 1-0 lead — The patience of Jonathan Osorio made TFC’s opening goal possible. After Sebastian Giovinco plays the 23-year-old Canadian midfielder down the left side of the penalty area, Osorio could have hit the ball first-time and prayed it found the head or foot of a teammate. Instead, he looked up, surveyed his options and picked out Bradley, who finished expertly.
55' — Bradley’s marathon run results in an Altidore goal — Bradley ran and ran and ran and ran with the ball, eventually giving it up to Osorio, whose shot clanged off the crossbar. Fortunately for TFC, Jozy Altidore was on the scene to clean up with a very nice side-volley finish. It was Altidore’s 10th goal of the season.
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Man of the match: Michael Bradley
Goalscorers: Bradley (35'), Altidore (55'), Oduro (74')
