Montreal Impact heading to the Amway Canadian Championship final

Trailing 0-2 after the first leg of the 2013 Amway Canadian Championship semi-final, Montreal Impact managed a convincing performance at home to send four-time Canadian champion Toronto FC home, winning 6:0 (6:2 on aggregate).

Toronto seemed eager to put this semi-final away early in the match when Robert Earnshaw saw his attempt roll passed Montreal’s keeper Evan Bush only to hit the post and deviate out of bounds.

Slowly but surely Marco Shällibaum’s men have built pressure and turned the match around. Andrew Romero got passed defender Ryan Richter on the left side of the box before crossing it to Justin Mapp who directed it in the lower left corner for the goal (24’).

Less than 10 minutes later, Daniele Paponi put the Impact up by two, scoring on a rebound following a shot by Mapp. The goal also meant Montreal was back in the semi-final series.

Paponi left the match at the 38th minute, replaced by Marco Di Vaio, who scored the first of his two goals of the night on a perfectly placed cross by Justin Mapp in the box and beat Toronto’s keeper Stefan Frei to his left. Half time score was then 3-0.

Montreal needed another goal to comfortably avoid a comeback from Toronto FC, and actually managed to add three by the end of the match. Romero connected with Marco Di Vaio on a nice give and go at the 61th to beat Frei.

Di Vaio added to his night’s box score at the 90th minute when he jumped on a return following a shot from Mapp to make it 5-0. Andrew Wenger completed the goal avalanche on a long ball behind Montreal’s defense to close the night at 6:0.Match Highlights: Impact Montréal 6:0 Toronto FC (6:2 on agg.)

Match Highlights: Impact Montréal 6:0 Toronto FC (6:2 on agg.)

The 6:0 score makes Montreal Impact the new record holder for the biggest win in Amway Canadian Championship, record formerly held by Toronto FC who had defeated Montreal 6-1 in 2009.

It also marks the highest goal scoring in a Canadian Championship match (8) since the adoption of the home-and-away series format in 2011. In addition, it is Montreal Impact’s first win in the Amway Canadian Championship since 2008 when the club had won the inaugural championship.

Coach Schällibaum’s starting lineup consisted of goalkeeper Evan Bush, defenders Maxim Tissot, Hassoun Camara, Wandrille Lefèvre, Jeb Brovsky; midfielders Justin Mapp, Davy Arnaud, Patrice Bernier, Andres Romero and forwards Daniele Paponi and Andrew Wenger.

Montreal’s first substitution was made at the 38th minute when Paponi left the field injured, replaced by Marco Di Vaio. Captain Arnaud left at the 52nd minute, injured as well, to be replaced by Collen Warner. The final substitution was made at the 93rd minute when Sanna Nyassi came in for Romero.

For Toronto FC, Ryan Nelsen starting lineup comprised of goalkeeper Stefan Frei, defenders Ryan Richter, Doneil Henry, Daniel Califf, Ashtone Morgan, midfielders John Bostock, Kyle Bekker, Jonathan Osorio, Reggie Lambe and forwards Andrew Wiedeman and Robert Earnshaw.

At halftime, the Reds replaced Bekker and Wiedeman by Jeremy Hall and Luis Silva. Ashton Bennett came on at the 74th minute to replace Osorio.

Montreal Impact will now compete in the 2013 Amway Canadian Championship final on 15 and 29 May against the winner of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and FC Edmonton semi-final.