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As it was last Saturday against Chicago, a halftime substitution was the catalyst for an ultimate game changing moment. Chad Barrett entered the match for Maxim Usanov and it was his hard work that led to Dwayne De Rosario's 73rd minute winner, knocking Montreal out of the NCC.
The in-form striker, coming off a brace against Chicago at the weekend, buzzed around the Montreal third throughout the second half. Impact coach Marc Dos Santos said it took 10 minutes for his defenders to adapt to Barrett. But they didn't completely succeed as it was his shot that was spilled by Matt Jordan on way to De Rosario's tapper.
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With strikers Reda Agourram and Roberto Brown suspended, Montreal was always going to struggle against the partnership of Nana Attakora and Adrian Cann at the centre of Toronto's defence. This was evident as Toronto held Montreal to a single shot on goal in the first half.
Rocco Placentino and Peter Byers caused little trouble for Attakora and Cann as the defenders stood their ground despite Montreal increasing their pressure as the first half progressed. The introduction of Eduardo Sebrango in the second half didn't make a difference either, as Stefan Frei became increasingly comfortable in protecting his clean sheet.
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Gabe Gala would be the sentimental choice here having made the best of another start for TFC. He was strong down both flanks as Preki switched him from left to right in the second half. Gala displayed an ability to move with or without the ball into good positions.
Sharing MOTM honours with Gala is captain Dwayne De Rosario. He came out strong in the first half, causing Montreal's David Testo to take bad fouls. Even as the match went flat, De Rosario kept attacking, forcing a 60th minute stop from Jordan before putting away the winner at the 73rd minute by following up on Barrett's shot.
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Toronto (4-4-2 formation): Stefan Frei, Nana Attakora, Adrian Cann, Nick Garcia, Maxim Usanov, Julian de Guzman, Martin Saric, Sam Cronin, Gabe Gala, Dwayne De Rosario, O'Brian White.
Montreal (4-4-2 formation): Matt Jordan, Stephen DeRoux, Nevio Pizzolitto, Hicham Aaboubou, Philippe Billy, Felipe Soares, Tony Donatelli, David Testo, Leonardo Di Lorenzo, Rocco Placentino, Peter Byers.
Goals: Toronto- De Rosario 73'
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Saturday, May 15 v. Los Angeles
MLS - Week 8
10:30 PM (RSN)
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GAME NOTES:
Simply the best team in Major League Soccer at the moment, Los Angeles has 22 points from eight matches. The only dropped points LA suffered this season was away to Kansas City in a scoreless draw.
The Galaxy boasts MLS' top goal scorer to date in potential U.S. World Cup call-up Edson Buddle, who has poached nine already in 2010. He also leads the league in shots (36) and shots on goal (17). Landon Donovan is the league's top playmaker thus far, while the club boasts six clean sheets with a backline led by keeper Donovan Ricketts and centre back Omar Gonzalez.
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6
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The number of games through which TFC has remained unbeaten against Montreal (5 wins, one draw).
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12-2
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The margin by which Toronto has outscored Montreal over six matches.
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27
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How many minutes it took Montreal to get their first shot on Frei.
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7
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Number of goals by De Rosario in all competitions in 2010 (over nine games). |
246
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Number of regulation minutes passed since Montreal last scored against Toronto.
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"The only cheer for me was when we scored the goal. That's the only thing that was important." - Preki told the Montreal Gazzette about his reaction to the stadium often roaring whenever the out-of-town hockey scores came in at Stade Saputo.
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"(LaBrocca) saw my run, played a great first time ball ... I had a good shot on goal and De Ro did what he does best and that is to follow up." - Chad Barrett on the buildup of the lone goal from Nick LaBrocca's pass to De Rosario's finish. |
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"I think it wasn't the best team that won ... (but) they have one or two players who, in the last third, can make a difference." - Marc Dos Santos (Montreal coach) on how he viewed the match and what he feels is the small difference between USSF's Montreal and MLS' Toronto. With no wins, 2 losses to Toronto, and a draw against Vancouver, Montreal is eliminated from the NCC with no chance to win the round-robin tournament.
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