The Montreal Impact kicked off their defense of the Amway Canadian Championship tournament against MLS rivals Toronto FC on Wednesday evening at Saputo Stadium. After finishing a stellar CONCACAF Champions League run, Montreal will now turn their attention to both league fixtures and another positive run in Canada’s premier club competition. Impact Head Coach Frank Klopas fielded a strong lineup, but did make a number of changes to his starting eleven with Designated Player Ignacio Piatti on the bench to start this fixture and Canadian International Patrice Bernier getting the start in central midfield.



With the team’s home opener scheduled for Sunday, Toronto FC Head Coach Greg Vanney elected to field a very different lineup compared to the one that had won its last two league fixture. While team captain Michael Bradley got the start, his fellow Designated Players, Giovinco and Jozy Altidore, were rested and did not even make the trip to Montreal. Reds backup goalkeeper Chris Konoka got his second straight start in net in place of Joe Bendik.

The Opening 45



Both clubs came out of the gate looking disjointed and not complete in sync, as Toronto and Montreal felt each other out in the early going while also working to deal with a number of new faces in each starting eleven.



Toronto had a decent early scoring chance in the 15th minute when a giveaway from Callum Mallace set up Canadian International Jonathan Osorio for a shot from just outside the box, with the TFC midfielder sending his shot wide of the net.



Both teams struggled to generate scoring opportunities, as the Impact looked to attack Reds right back Warren Creavalle in particular.



Montreal’s best chance of the half came in the 39th minute when Patrice Bernier delivered a perfect pass to send in Dominic Oduro. However, Toronto keeper Chris Konopka was able to get a hand on Oduro’s shot to redirect it to safety.



The Second Half



The Impact came out of the half-time break with energy and purpose and quickly dominated the possession while generating the lion’s share of the scoring chances.



In the 50th minute, Oduro came close to a breakthrough with a powerful shot that was just wide of the post.



The Reds had a decent chance of their own in the 60th minute when Michael Bradley launched a quality free kick over the wall that Impact keeper Eric Kronberg did well to push wide.



The Impact came close again in the 61st minute when Jack McInerney broke in on the TFC net but was unable to chip the ball over Konopka into the net.



Montreal broke through and scored the game winning goal in the 68th minute when McInerney got in behind the TFC back line and redirected a fine cross from Nigel Reo-Coker into the back of the net.



Toronto continued to struggle to generate significant scoring opportunities the remainder of regulation and four minutes of extra time, as the Impact drew first blood in the opening leg and will now take a the advantage to Toronto for the second leg next week.



A year ago, Ashtone Morgan would've started this game. Tonight, he's being saved for Sunday's MLS match. Incredible. Good for him. #TFC — John Molinaro (@JohnMolinaro) May 7, 2015



So glad see the 4-4-2 again. #imfc — Odi N (@OdiN_729) May 7, 2015



Man of the Match



Michael Bradley



On a day in which Toronto FC looked disjointed and relatively listless offensively, Michael Bradley delivered great energy and forward thrust and looked to be the only player on the Reds who had it in him to possibly generate a goal. Playing with a number of players who have not yet seen much match action this season, Bradley was a step above his teammates and clearly missed Giovinco and Altidore as link up options.



Jack McInerney



Impact forward Jack McInerney gets the nod as Montreal’s Man of the Match courtesy of the fact that he scored the only goal of the game. While the Impact as a whole turned their game up a notch in the second half, the U.S. International had a fine game paired up top with speedster Dominic Oduro and showed good movement throughout the match.



Toronto FC Line-up



1 Chris Konopka

38 Justin Morrow

15 Eriq Zavaleta

6 Nick Hagglund

3 Warren Creavalle

4 Michael Bradley

26 Collen Warner

19 Daniel Lovitz

18 Marky Delgado

21 Jonathan Osorio

27 Luke Moore



Substitutions: Benoit Cheyrou for Michael Bradley (74); Jay Chapman for Daniel Lovitz (74).



Montreal Impact Line-up



22 Eric Kronberg

3 Eric Miller

23 Laurent Ciman

55 Wandrille Lefèvre

14 Nigel Reo-Coker

8 Patrice Bernier

16 Calum Mallace

51 Maxim Tissot

29 Eric Alexander

7 Dominic Oduro

99 Jack McInerney



Substitutions: Andres Romero for Maxim Tissot (61); Dilly Duka for Calum Mallace (71); Ignacio Piatti for Dominic Oduro (75). Both clubs came out of the gate looking disjointed and not complete in sync, as Toronto and Montreal felt each other out in the early going while also working to deal with a number of new faces in each starting eleven.Toronto had a decent early scoring chance in the 15th minute when a giveaway from Callum Mallace set up Canadian International Jonathan Osorio for a shot from just outside the box, with the TFC midfielder sending his shot wide of the net.Both teams struggled to generate scoring opportunities, as the Impact looked to attack Reds right back Warren Creavalle in particular.Montreal’s best chance of the half came in the 39th minute when Patrice Bernier delivered a perfect pass to send in Dominic Oduro. However, Toronto keeper Chris Konopka was able to get a hand on Oduro’s shot to redirect it to safety.The Impact came out of the half-time break with energy and purpose and quickly dominated the possession while generating the lion’s share of the scoring chances.In the 50th minute, Oduro came close to a breakthrough with a powerful shot that was just wide of the post.The Reds had a decent chance of their own in the 60th minute when Michael Bradley launched a quality free kick over the wall that Impact keeper Eric Kronberg did well to push wide.The Impact came close again in the 61st minute when Jack McInerney broke in on the TFC net but was unable to chip the ball over Konopka into the net.Montreal broke through and scored the game winning goal in the 68th minute when McInerney got in behind the TFC back line and redirected a fine cross from Nigel Reo-Coker into the back of the net.Toronto continued to struggle to generate significant scoring opportunities the remainder of regulation and four minutes of extra time, as the Impact drew first blood in the opening leg and will now take a the advantage to Toronto for the second leg next week.On a day in which Toronto FC looked disjointed and relatively listless offensively, Michael Bradley delivered great energy and forward thrust and looked to be the only player on the Reds who had it in him to possibly generate a goal. Playing with a number of players who have not yet seen much match action this season, Bradley was a step above his teammates and clearly missed Giovinco and Altidore as link up options.Impact forward Jack McInerney gets the nod as Montreal’s Man of the Match courtesy of the fact that he scored the only goal of the game. While the Impact as a whole turned their game up a notch in the second half, the U.S. International had a fine game paired up top with speedster Dominic Oduro and showed good movement throughout the match.1 Chris Konopka38 Justin Morrow15 Eriq Zavaleta6 Nick Hagglund3 Warren Creavalle4 Michael Bradley26 Collen Warner19 Daniel Lovitz18 Marky Delgado21 Jonathan Osorio27 Luke MooreBenoit Cheyrou for Michael Bradley (74); Jay Chapman for Daniel Lovitz (74).22 Eric Kronberg3 Eric Miller23 Laurent Ciman55 Wandrille Lefèvre14 Nigel Reo-Coker8 Patrice Bernier16 Calum Mallace51 Maxim Tissot29 Eric Alexander7 Dominic Oduro99 Jack McInerneyAndres Romero for Maxim Tissot (61); Dilly Duka for Calum Mallace (71); Ignacio Piatti for Dominic Oduro (75).