AFTER 90: Sharp Reds leave soft Cheesemakers feeling Blue

Crumbled Saputo? You said it, not us.



THE BUZZ:

Can Toronto manage to extend 70 good minutes into 90?

Will new DP Marco Di Vaio make an immediate "Impact"?

How many cheese puns can fit into a post-match report?

Are Aceval and Soolsma back in the Gouda books?

Can Koevermans keep up his hot strike rate?

Will the "amazing" Montreal supporters fill half of Stade Saputo?

Should I have gone with the provolone or the Swiss? Discuss.

　

FIRST HALF:

No Toronto FC events

　

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHT: Jeremy Hall taking a flying dropkick AND a cross to the face and getting up like a champ

FIRST HALF LOWLIGHT: Montreal fans kind of, sort of showing up for the big "401 Derby"

　

HALFTIME: MONTREAL 0 - TORONTO 0

　

SECOND HALF:

45' - SUB: Nick Soolsma on for Jeremy Hall

52' - GOAL: Toronto - Torsten Frings

MONTREAL 0 - TORONTO 1

56' - SUB: Doneil Henry on for Julian de Guzman

72' - GOAL: Toronto - Ryan Johnson

MONTREAL 0 - TORONTO 2

73' - SUB: Reggie Lambe on for Eric Avila

78' - GOAL: Toronto - Danny Koevermans

MONTREAL 0 - TORONTO 3

　

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHT: Three of the finest goals we have seen from this club in years. (yes that's three highlights - sue us)

SECOND HALF LOWLIGHT: That it had to end.

　

FULL TIME: MONTREAL 0 - TORONTO 3

　

PLAYER RATINGS: Milos Kocic 6 / Jeremy Hall 6.5 (Nick Soolsma 6.5) / Richard Eckersley 6 / Logan Emory 6 / Ashtone Morgan 6.5 / Terry Dunfield 6 / Torsten Frings 7 / Julian de Guzman 6 (Doneil Henry 5) / Eric Avila 5.5 (Reggie Lambe 6) / Ryan Johnson 6.5 / Danny Koevermans 7

　

THE YORKIES' TFC MAN OF THE MATCH: Torsten Frings

　

THE MOOD:

For stretches of the previous matches under Paul Mariner's TFC stewardship, there were moments you just wanted to keep separate from the rest. There were those exciting moments where the offence clicked or the scrappy defence fought hard but they were eventually overshadowed by the late-match let-downs. Tonight, especially in the stellar second half, it was only those moments on display as TFC dominated a limp L'Impact. Edam!

　

While it is far too early to proclaim this version of Toronto FC as "the seventh coming" and believe that all our ills are fixed - it is perhaps a jumping off point. Just maybe, Mariner's simple, straightforward plan is what this team is best suited for at the moment. If the much-hinted transfer window reinforcements can enhance the current squad we can at least hope for competitiveness and respectability for the remains of 2012. A playoff run is out of the question but if we can have more matches like tonight we at least get a bit of what we have missed while supporting TFC - a bit of fun. For now, we'll take that.

　

Absolutely owning Stade Saputo isn't bad as well. Pretty Gouda really.