THE MATCHUP: Winter's end?

Goodbye old friend. Goodbye old friend's wispy 'stache.



TORONTO VS. MONTREAL
AMWAY CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
SEMI-FINAL 2ND LEG (0-0 AGGREGATE)
　
BMO FIELD - WEDNESDAY 8PM ET
TV: SPORTSNET ONTARIO
　
THE KICKABOUT:
What started a year and a half ago so optimistically could very well end with a whimper at the end of the Canadian Championship's ("The Cank" to its friends) semi-final. Aron Winter's grand experiment of creating Ajax, Ontario is on its very last legs after a nightmare start to 2012 and a loss to arch-rival Montreal in a competition TFC has won thrice could push ownership's hand. By many accounts the knives are already out and sharpened behind the scenes for the pleasant yet infuriatingly stubborn Dutchman. If Winter once again pushes his new "Total Preki" 4-3-3 (minus the offence) - or as it was re-branded in the South Stands on Saturday: "The 9-1-1 Formation" - and TFC yet again stumbles, we may be seeing him for the last time in TFC rouge.
　
Of course, with TFC's history in this competition there will likely be an earthquake/tornado/locust delay followed by a squeaking 1-0 victory off the boot of Ty Harden.
　
MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME: "The 401 Derby III: The Cankening"
　
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
TORONTO: Eric Avila, Adrian Cann, Ryan Johnson
MONTREAL: Patrice Bernier, Bernardo Corradi, Donovan Ricketts
　
THE ODDS:
- Mariner / Nicol: 5-1
- Cochrane / Dichio: 25-1
- Rongen / de Klerk: 50-1
　
WHO ARE YA?
Setting the "worst start" record isn't the only infamous title TFC is in line for. If Aron Winter does get sacked in the near future, The Reds will be well on their way to the "Most Managers" record as well. Word from behind the scenes hints that TFC already has their contingencies in place to bring back all twelve managers they will have hired and fired in a 10th Anniversary celebration in 2017.

The future halftime parade will feature: Maurice "Mo to my friends (and far more enemies)" Johnston; John Carver; Chris Cummins; Predrag "Preki" Radosavljevic, Nick Dasovic; Aron Winter; Steve Nicol; Danny Dichio; the second coming of Predrag "Preki" Radosavljevic; Jim Brennan's Facial Hair with a whistle; the winner of TFC's "Dream Manager" Competition; and Danny Dichio. Welcoming them will be Tom Anselmi and Earl Cochrane who despite everything will still be there! Hurray!
　
POST-MATCH HEADLINE: "SPRING SHOWERS WASH AWAY LAST REMNANTS OF WINTER"