Upon First Glance – Toronto FC v Montreal Impact – Voyageur’s Cup Second Leg

    A cool, stormy evening’s wind whipping off the lake; fans of each side gathered at BMO Field to take in the encounter.

    TFC’s in red, leaving aside the malaise that has clouded their season, to amass in the South; the Impact’s in blue to the North, having made the short journey across the provincial border for the occasion.

    Torsten Frings’ inclusion; the promised surprise, given the rattle his shoulder sustained in the last match against DC, a portent of an unwillingness to sit back and let circumstance have its way.

    An early goal, seconds shy of two minutes in; it would prove crucial. Reggie Lambe, that Bermudian Tractor, pounces on a loose ball in the box and his deflected strike curls agonizingly in at the far-post, much to the surprise of all and sundry.

    Much the same team, that which has underwhelmed thus far, but somehow a very different one. A spirituous hunger, a touch more precision, and a little bit of luck; the only measures required for a marked transformation.

    Nothing was out of reach, for they had come to play. A team meeting; unburdened of the suppressive load, it showed. Then, almost without warning came a turn.

    Some say fallacious, others debatable, but certainly in the least - a mysterious red card, if not for the boot of Richard Eckersley that caught Sinisa Ubiparipovic, then for how it played out. Card given one way, but foul the other.

    Up a goal, down a man; the former showed the latter not at all. The red advantage in one direction only; for the most part.

    Then a second; goal that is.

    A blocked clearance falls kindly onto the forehead of Ryan Johnson, who then reacts quickest to the rebound to slam across Donovan Ricketts – resplendent in a radiating orange glow – to double the lead at two.

    Tempers flare as the halftime whistle tolls, finger-pointing ensues, followed by a shove or two, much ado about nothing in the end.

    The second more daunting; impact changes for Montreal, while Toronto holds firm to their success.

    Outnumbered but not outfought, out-possessed but not out-played. Memory struggles to recall any real moments of threat through the long forty-five-plus; though memory at such moments of stress has been known to fail.

    Milos Kocic responded when called; outfield the legs tired, but did as they were told.

    In truth it could have been more, but 2-0 proved to be enough. 

    In a game of inches, Toronto outpaced their rivals by a mile. That which had been lost, was found for one night.

    A good place to start; what will tomorrow bring?

    For now, Vancouver awaits; the rest, well; wait and see.