Toronto handles rival Montreal in first of three bouts with 3-1 win

Ryan Young

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Toronto handles rival Montreal in first of three bouts with 3-1 win image

It is one of the biggest rivalries in the entire league — and its only getting bigger. 

Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact will face eachother three times to conclude the regular season, and each game will greatly impact how both teams finish in the standings.

Yet in the first of the three bouts on Sunday in Montreal, it was all Toronto the entire way. Toronto lead the Impact 2-0 late in the second half, after keeping them at bay nearly the entire game. And while at the end the Impact nearly made a comeback, forward Sebastian Giovinco scored a goal in extra time to seal the deal, giving Toronto the 3-1 win.

Giovinco got Toronto started in the first half, scoring a goal in the 41st minute on a free kick to put it on the board first. 

Then in the 51st minute, Jose Altidore was setup perfectly in front of the goal to score another for Toronto, giving it a comfortable two-goal lead.

Heading into extra time, it looked as though that was it. Yet in the 92nd minute, Impact forward Ignacio Piatti found the net to put Montreal on the board. But in the very next minute, Giovinco responded with a goal of his own to seal the deal and prevent any Montreal comeback, giving Toronto the 3-1 win.

The win keeps Toronto in first place of the Eastern Conference standings with 56 points. The Impact would have moved above the playoff line with a win on Sunday, however they sit behind the Atlanta United on a goal difference. Montreal is back in action next week when it takes on Chicago, and Toronto plays next in two weeks against San Jose.

Ryan Young