Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 3
Olympic Stadium - Montreal
3:00 pm ET – March 17, 2018
WATCH: CTV, TSN4, TVAS in Canada | MLS LIVE in US

It’s the first 401 Derby of the season and they’re taking it inside with the 61,000-seat Olympic Stadium hosting the Montreal Impact’s home opener against a Toronto FC side that made history on Tuesday by advancing on aggregate over Mexican champion Tigres in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals.

Montreal Impact

For the second straight game, the Impact dug themselves a two-goal hole, but climbed out to equalize on second-half goals by Ignacio Piatti and Raheem Edwards only to concede a stoppage-time penalty by Gyasi Zardes in a 3-2 loss to Columbus Crew SC Saturday. The same as true in a season-opening 2-1 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place.

“Fortunately and unfortunately, it seems like a theme for us, to be better in the second half,” defender Daniel Lovitz said. “The guys on the field know that we feel confident during most of the game, but little things happen and we have to work on it. We will look into that and to start our games right.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Zakaria Diallo (ruptured Achilles tendon), D - Kyle Fisher (tibia), F - Anthony Jackson-Hamel (hamstring)

Projected Starting XI
(4-1-4-1, right to left)
GK: Evan Bush — Michael Petrasso, Victor Cabrera, Rod Fanni, Daniel Lovitz — Samuel Piette— Jeisson Vargas, Ken Krolicki, Saphir Taider, Ignacio Piatti — Matteo Mancosu

Notes: More than 15 percent of Ignacio Piatti’s MLS goals have come against Toronto (8 of his 53, inc. playoffs). He has scored more than five goals against just two other teams (six vs. CLB, five vs. ORL). … The Impact have lost five straight home games. A loss to Toronto would see them tie the third-longest home losing streak in MLS history, set most recently by Chivas USA (Oct. 22, 2011-May 4, 2012).

Toronto FC

It was historic and dramatic and when the dust cleared it was Toronto FC with arms raised on Mexican soil after the defending MLS champions ousted the defending Liga MX champions Tigres UANL on aggregate, despite a 3-2 loss in the second leg in Monterrey Tuesday night.

Sebastian Giovinco did Sebastian Giovinco things, giving TFC a vital second away goal on a patented free kick and Chris Mavinga’s game-saving block were critical for the visitors, who now shift back to league play against a desperate Montreal team. It would not be surprising to see some changes to Greg Vanney's starting XI after an emotional night in Monterrey.

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: D - Justin Morrow (leg), D - Chris Mavinga (leg)

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Alex Bono — Eriq Zavaleta, Drew Moor, Nick Hagglund — Auro, Marky Delgado, Michael Bradley, Ager Aketxe, Ashtone Morgan — Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore

Notes: Jozy Altidore has scored seven goals in 11 career appearances against Montreal (inc. playoffs), his most against any MLS foe. Additionally, he has scored in four straight games against the Impact. … Toronto lost just one of their last eight regular season road games last season (4W-3D). They outscored opponents 19-10 over that span.