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Photo Credit: Toronto FC
Recap: CF Montreal Knocks Toronto FC Out Of Canadian Championship In Opening Round
By The first 401 Derby of the season has ended in favour of the side in blue: CF Montreal has knocked out Toronto FC in the Preliminary Round of the 2025 Canadian Championship, winning 3-2 in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw at BMO Field.
The evening 401 Derby began in Toronto’s favour as Theo Corbeanu would open the night’s scoring in just the 29th minute. the goal came after a brilliant dribbling sequence and stringing a top left strike from outside the box, beating Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
Corbeanu’s goal ended the Reds’ 378- minute scoring drought at BMO Field, a figure dating back to Deandre Kerr’s eleventh minute header goal in the 2-1 loss in the home season opener to the Chicago Fire on March 15.
CF Montreal would equalize in the 70th minute following a play from the corner kick, when defender Joel Waterman volleyed home a Luca Petrasso cross after the Toronto defensive scrambled and missed the clearance.
Toronto FC would soon respond to the equalizing goal just four minutes after Waterman had made things level, as Corbeanu would find himself assisting Spicer to retake the lead after a long run down the flank, beating Waterman before crossing into the box for Tyrese Spicer who would pick out the bottome right corner just past a diving Jonthan Sirois.
Just minutes before the full 90, substitute Giacomo Vrioni – who came in for Prince Owusu – would stun the announced crowd of 20,265 at BMO Field with a incredible side volley in the 88th minute.
Following Vrioni’s volley, the game finished deadlocked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time. The preliminary round match went straight to the shootout it, where Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois would prove a hero for Montreal by stopping Tyrese Spicer and Ola Brynhildsen, winning 3-2 in the spot kicks.
The win at BMO Field marks CF Montreal’s frst win of the season across all competitions. Montreal will now face either Canadian Premier League sides Forge FC or Halifax Wanderers FC.
Toronto, on the other hand, has yet two win at BMO Field since September 14 last year, when they won 2-1 against Austin FC.
“Incredibly disappointed,” lamented Toronto coach Robin Fraser.
“Disappointed that we lost not one lead, but two. We certainly felt like we did enough to win the game.”
Toronto went down early in the 18th minute when captain Jonathan Osorio suffered a shoulder injury after a awkward fall following a tangle with teammate Lazar Stefanovic and Montreal newcomer Victor Loturi.
Other absentees were Deandre Kerr, Derrick Etienne Jr, Charlie Sharp, Henry Wingo, Richie Laryea, and Italian star Federico Bernardeschi, which was a last-minute decision as he was recovering from a knock sustained in Saturday games loss against NYFC.
Toronto FC will be back in action on Saturday for some league play, once again at BMO Field, as they look to break the winless streak at home dating back to September 14th as they host the New England Revolution.
