Toronto FC defeats Impact at Stade Saptuo

In this year’s second battle of champions, Toronto FC has once again come out on top, this time with a 1:0 victory over Impact Montréal from the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Toronto FC won 1:0 on Dwayne De Rosario’s first goal of the 2010 championship in the 73rd minute. The Impact needed a draw or win to stay alive in the standings, but will now be unable to catch first place in the six-week series.



Toronto FC remains in first place, now with six points following its 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 has enough matches to play in its effort to catch Toronto FC.



Toronto FC could clinch the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship as early as next week when it travels to Swangard Stadium for the first of two matches against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. A third win would give Toronto FC nine points and limit Whitecaps FC to a maximum of seven. Whitecaps will need at a minimum a draw when it hosts Toronto FC on 19 May with a 19.30 local kickoff (Rogers Sportsnet East and Rogers Sportsnet West at 23.00 ET / 20.00 PT).



As for Toronto FC’s victory over the Impact on Match Day 3, it long had the looks of a 0-0 draw before De Rosario broke the score 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 Montréal’s hopes as De Rosario one-timed a rebound past a helpless Matt Jordan. Toronto FC’s Chad Barrett had controlled the ball on the right side and beat a pair of 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 to the 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, Impact Montréal featured Matt Jordan in goal, Stephen DeRoux at right back, Nevio Pizzolitto and Hicham Aâboubou at centre back, Philippe Billy at left back, Felipe Soares at right midfield, Tony Donatelli and David Testo at centre midfield, and Felipe Soares at right midfield, and Rocco Placentino and Peter Byers 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 at centre midfield, Gabriel Gala at left midfield, and Dwayne De Rosario and O’Brian White up front.



The 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship runs six consecutive Wednesday nights from 28 April to 2 June. The three professional clubs – Impact Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – play four matches each – two at home and two on the road. The champion wins the Voyageurs Cup and qualifies for CONCACAF Champions League.