Today’s News, Tuesday , Jul.22
Pride on the line as TFC battles Impact
'It's probably going to be the most important game in club history,' says Toronto goalkeeper Sutton
Morgan Campbell
When Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact kick off the final game of the Canadian Championship tonight, they'll be playing for much more than a trophy.
They'll play for pride. Major League Soccer's setup doesn't lend itself to derbies, but some TFC players say today's game – to decide the top pro team in Canada this year – sure feels like one.
And for a chance at a bigger stage. A TFC win earns them a spot in the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League later this year. Impact only needs a tie to advance.
Finally, they'll play for credibility. A tournament title would bolster the Impact's case for inclusion in Major League Soccer, while TFC hopes to prove that Canada's highest profile pro team is also its best.
Add all those factors and tonight's game isn't just big – TFC goalkeeper says it's one of the biggest. In Canada, at least.
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All to play for
PETER MALLETT
Canadian bragging rights and sweet revenge are on the line in tonight's final match of the Canadian Championship between Major League Soccer's Toronto FC and the visiting Montreal Impact of the United Soccer Leagues.
Toronto (1-1-1) must win the final fixture in the three-team round-robin to advance to the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round of 16, but the Impact (2-1-0) need only a tie to qualify.
"We are going into the game looking to win," Adam Braz, a Montreal Impact defender, said. "It's good because we have put ourselves in a position to advance. It's a chance for us to prove that we are the best team in Canada, but also [it would be] a huge honour to represent Canada in the CONCACAF Champions League."
Born in Montreal, Braz was used sparingly by Toronto last season, playing in 13 games before being released in the off-season and returning to the Impact, where he had spent four seasons previously.
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TFC faces uphill battle
By DEAN MCNULTY, SUN MEDIA
Tonight's Canadian socccer championship final against the Montreal Impact -- a CONCACAF game that wasn't even contested last season -- is being hailed as the biggest soccer match played in the short history of Toronto FC.
Some are even hyping the BMO Field showdown as simply the most important played in the history of soccer in this country.
In reality, it likely ranks somewhere in the middle.
TFC, with a record of 1-1-1 in the round robin tournament that also included the Vancouver Whitecaps, must win against Montreal to advance in the CONCACAF Cup against the best clubs in North and South America next winter.
And TFC coach John Carver admitted yesterday his Major League Soccer club has all the pressure going into the 7:30 p.m. start against a Montreal side that plays in the lower wrung United Soccer League.
"Everyone expects us to win," he said. "But I'm expecting our big players to handle the pressure."
Carver knows all too well the pitfalls of playing against a team that plays in a lower league.
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TFC need to make an Impact
By Ryan Johnston
SPORTSNET.CA
Toronto FC's deficiencies in front of goal might be all the game-plan the visiting Montreal Impact (2-0-1) need in the final game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship on Tuesday night at BMO Field.
The MLS representative (1-1-1) in the inaugural have just one goal to show for their last three matches, including a scoreless draw against the expansion San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
"They might be thinking that they will play the 10 men behind the ball because we haven't anyone who can put the ball in the back of the net," coach John Carver said during one of the lighter moments of Saturday's post-match conference. "But it just takes one minute, and it's in the back of the net."
Carver's team will need that one minute of inspiration against Montreal as anything less than a win will eliminate the MLS team. For Montreal, a draw at BMO Field will suffice and send the USL representatives through to the next round. Not needing to score or concede a goal to advance, Impact coach John Limniatis may opt to play a conservative - let's not say sluggish - 90 minutes.
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TFC preparing for battle with Impact
Reds end busy month with 'most important' game
TORONTO -- The busiest month of Toronto FC's season is almost over, but it will end with perhaps the most important game of all. Toronto FC plays host to the Montreal Impact on Tuesday night in the final game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. It is a must-win game for the Reds, who must pick up the three points against the Impact in order to win the tournament and go on to represent Canada in the CONCACAF Champions League.
"It's probably going to be the most important game in club history, and one of the most important games in Canadian history as far as soccer goes," said TFC goalkeeper Greg Sutton. "It's exciting. We're happy to be playing here at home, and we now we have to win the game. We're confident going into it and we're excited."
The Impact, who play in the United Soccer Leagues First Division, lead the three-team table with six points thanks to a pair of 2-0 wins against fellow USL side Vancouver Whitecaps. TFC and Vancouver each have four points, but since the Whitecaps have played all four of their tournament games, only the Reds stand between the Impact and the Champions League.
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Sunshine
Great love does not exist without joy and without great suffering ,that's why One club is worth only as much as its fans !
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