Impact Winless Run Continues in Toronto

The Impact's rough month of August continued in Toronto on Saturday afternoon dropping a 2-1 result to an in-form Toronto FC side. The result leaves the Impact sitting in the 6th and final playoff spot, however this could change by the end of the weekend. With Montreal dropping points left, right, and centre the pressure is beginning to mount on Head Coach Frank Klopas.

Struggling to Finish: 

"I take responsibility today because I missed some to put this game away. We need to get back home and try to correct it." - Dominic Oduro

Over the last month (and since the trade of Jack McInerney) the Impact have struggled mightily to find the back of the net. These problems continued on Saturday. Lone striker Dominic Oduro missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 7th-minute after getting around the TFC keeper but missing the open net. A second scoring opportunity was presented to the Impact in the 21st-minute however Canadian International Maxim Tissot skied his shot over the bar. The Impact could have been up by at least one goal within the first thirty minutes.

The Bleu-Blanc-Noir would rue their lack of scoring just a few moments later as American International Michael Bradley opened the scoring in the 34th-minute. Osorio was able to find an open Bradley with a beautiful pass to open to scoring.

Road Woes Continue: 

"We made two mistakes and we paid for it. That's difficult on the road" - Frank Klopas

Things went from bad to worse at the start of the second half as Toronto FC scored a second. Substitute Jozy Altidore made the score 2-0 in the 55th-minute. Although TFC did not have their best performance on Saturday afternoon they were able to take their chances, and Altidore's goal was a perfect example. After a great run by Bradley, Altidore was able to slot the ball into the corner of the net.

Dominic Oduro finally clawed one back for the Impact in the 74th-minute after a nice centring ball from Andres Romero. Oduro who has been struggling over the last couple of weeks slotted home a nice ball to give Montreal a shot going into the last ten minutes of the match.

Ciman Sees Red:

Sorry pour mon match de ce soir !!! Pas a la hauteur ... j'vais travailler dur pour revenir au top

— Laurent Ciman (@LaurentCiman23) August 29, 2015

Things took an ugly turn for Montreal in the 77th-minute as Laurent Ciman received his marching orders. The Belgian received his second yellow card of the night and will miss out on some important games coming up for the Impact in their push for the playoffs. Ciman is set to miss one MLS game due to International duties, another for yellow card accumulation, and a third for his red card. With the Impact reduced to ten players, they were unable to get the equalizer, dropping yet another result.

Whats Next:

The Impact are back to the drawing board after another defeat. As the team continues to drop results Frank Klopas is coming under increasing pressure from the fans and media. If Klopas makes it through this week and fails to get three points at home next weekend against his former team, the Chicago Fire, something will certainly give. The Impact up to this point in the season have been making a living with a solid home record, although even this positive is starting to crumble.

Montreal is hoping to have two important pieces back in the lineup to face Chicago in Ignacio Piatti and Didier Drogba, who missed the Toronto FC match due to injury. A month ago a playoff spot looked assured, but as each weekend over the last month has passed that hope is beginning to fade.

Game Statistics and Quotes Courtesy of the Montreal Impact:

LINEUPS

MTL - GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Ambroise Oyongo, Victor Cabrera, Laurent Ciman, Donny Toia; M-Marco Donadel, Calum Mallace, Maxim Tissot (Justin Mapp 58'), Johan Venegas (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 58'), Andrés Romero (Eric Miller 80'); F-Dominic Oduro

Subs not used: GK-Maxime Crépeau; D-Wandrille Lefèvre; M-Nigel Reo-Coker, Eric Alexander

TOR - GK-Chris Konopka; D-Ahmed Kantari, Daniel Lovitz (Ashtone Morgan 46'), Josh Williams, Justin Morrow; M-Benoit Cheyrou (Jozy Altidore 33'), Collen Warner, Jonathan Osorio, Marco Delgado, Michael Bradley; F-Sebastian Giovinco (Robbie Findley 51')

Subs not used: GK-Joe Bendik; D-Eriq Zavaleta; F-Herculez Gomez, Luke Moore

GOALS
TOR - Bradley (Osorio, Giovinco) 35'
TOR - Altidore 55'
MTL - Oduro (Romero) 74'

CAUTIONS
TOR - Warner 24'
MTL - Ciman 45+2'
MTL - Cabrera 56'

EJECTION

MTL - Ciman 77'