MLS Toronto FC

Montreal Impact (1) - Toronto FC (0) Post Match Summary

Published on September 2, 2020 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Toronto FC News Release


SCORING SUMMARY

MTL - Rudy Camacho 14' (Romell Quioto, Saphir Taider)

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

MTL - Rudy Camacho 45' (caution)

MTL - Zachary Brault-Guillard 46' (caution)

MTL - Victor Wanyama 52' (caution)

TFC - Alejandro Pozuelo 59' (caution)

MTL - Saphir Taider 88' (caution)

MTL - Emanuel Maciel 90' + 7 (caution)

RECORDS

TORONTO FC: 5-1-3 18 PTS.

MONTREAL: 4-3-1 13 PTS.

MEDIA NOTES

Michael Bradley made his 200th MLS regular season appearance in tonight's match

LINE-UPS

TORONTO FC - Quentin Westberg; Auro Jr., Omar Gonzalez, Chris Mavinga (Erickson Gallardo 81'), Justin Morrow; Jonathan Osorio, Michael Bradley (C), Marky Delgado (Ayo Akinola 61'), Pablo Piatti (Nick DeLeon 73'), Alejandro Pozuelo; Jozy Altidore (Tsubasa Endoh 81')

Substitutes Not Used: Alex Bono, Eriq Zavaleta, Noble Okello, Liam Fraser, Jayden Nelson

MONTREAL - Clement Diop; Rudy Camacho, Luis Binks, Zachary Brault-Guillard, Jukka Raitala (C); Wanyama, Samuel Piette, Saphir Taider, Lassi Lappalainen (Bojan 75'), Emanuel Maciel; Romell Quioto (Orji Okwonko 79')

Substitutes Not Used: Evan Bush, Rod Fanni, Amar Sejdic, Karifa Yao, Jorge Corrales, Shamit Shome, Anthony Jackson-Hamel

GREG VANNEY - HEAD COACH, TORONTO FC

You guys had your chances tonight but so did they, what was your take on the match?

"We gifted them the corner kick that led to their first goal, we got beat at the back post, that's 1-0 we're down. Not sure what was going on, on the penalty kick, we're down a goal we should just be burying the ball in the back of the net. So, we gift them the fact that they don't have to make a save or do anything on the penalty kick then we have a number of other opportunities. Their keeper makes a good save on Jozy in the first half, we got a number of chances where we got balls played across the face of the goal, different things like that where we have nice looks. The game ended up being very open, defensively we were pressing a touch too much I think and when weren't quite set and ready to press they were able to find time between our lines. Quioto and Lappalainen those guys are just running so the game gets stretched out, it gets open. Players start to get tired, all these guys have played on relatively short rest in this time period, so guys start to get a little tired and the game is going back and forth at that point. Obviously we're chasing the goal so when you do that you expose yourself even a little bit more but the goals at the end of the day are what changes the game and the one we gave up, we shouldn't of even given them the corner kick and the second that doesn't happen is a penalty kick that we've been consistently good on and it just doesn't make sense that we wouldn't just put the ball in the back of the net."

Update on Michael Bradley? Were you surprised the red was downgraded to yellow?

"Very surprised. Typically, on those situations, the way I understand officiating, I am not one, but I've been around the game a long time and sit in meetings for hours listening about it. Typically, they give a guy a red card and if a player is injured and goes off and the tackle was bad then that guy usually keeps the red card, he doesn't usually get to get it back and get a yellow card. The tackle was obviously bad enough to injury our player it should be bad enough to be a red card in my opinion. That's my understanding as part of the criteria that they look at as a red card is if they injury the player. So, the fact they turned it over again baffles me, that wasn't the only thing that baffled me on the night. As far as Michael, he's sore, his knee is a bit sore. Don't think it's anything really serious but he's definitely hurting, and we'll see to what extent and how long and what that all means but we can't speculate at the moment."

What's your message to the team after tonight's game? Were things a little too casual?

"I don't know if it was casual. Obviously, the corner kick that we give up early is a misplay, not sure if it's casual because Q (Quentin Westberg) is good with his feet, typically he can find those passes. I don't know if it's casual or if it's just a missed pass. I think the guys were focused, they were sharp, they put the work into the game, we created a number of chances, obviously the penalty kick will beat it to death. That's probably a casual decision potentially...it's a risk obviously, every penalty kick has a chance of being saved, that's a risk, it has more possibilities of ways it can go wrong. Aside from that I thought the guys put in a shift, they competed, it was an open game, there were some fast moments and both teams got tired as the game went on. We missed opportunities, you have to execute. You can't win a game if you don't score a goal and we got ourselves into some good spots and we didn't execute. We got to be better and get more presence in the box and we got to be better about the service and we got to get shots off. This is two games in a row where we get balls into reasonably good spots and we never get the shot off and make the goalkeeper have to make a save. He had to make a couple tonight, but he should have had to make more and it's a game we should come away with some goals."

QUENTIN WESTBERG - GOALKEEPER, TORONTO FC

Can you give us your thoughts on the game tonight? Also, as a goalkeeper, can you give us your opinion on Pozuelo's penalty attempt?

"Certainly, a frustrating night as we were in the correct spots and the correct moments, especially in the first half where we created quite a few chances. Once again sometimes it goes in, sometimes it doesn't. I think (our) stars weren't aligned tonight a little bit because Montreal did its best and a little bit because at some point, we could've been sharper. It's always the same game. We were a little more imprecise tonight and paid a big tribute. It was a game on a thin line. It could've shifted our way but unfortunately, tonight it didn't.

How do you view the chance to tie an MLS record (for longest unbeaten regular season streak) as players? Was that even given thought to or not at all?

"I don't think so. The most important is our principle and the soccer we create week in, week out. This is what got us to that streak and these statistics. Unbeaten streaks, shutouts - they're good, they're glorifying but at the end of the day it's what we produce, and this is what we can rely on moving forward. Creating chances is always a good sign. Of course, we need to put them, we need to avoid taking as many goals as possible. It's a game of balance but I think we can be still very proud of the type of football we create day in, day out and this is what led us to that streak. With all the cuts and everything, for sure it didn't have the same flavor but it's always gratifying to not lose and tonight the loss hurts more than not breaking the record or this or that. We're all competitors and I hate that feeling."

How do you view the chance to play again soon as a competitor and a guy who wants to get three points?

"It's always better to turn around quickly, to play another game and play some more of our football, establish more of our principles in Vancouver, in Montreal, wherever - Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, in Florida, everywhere - this year has been very challenging but one thing hasn't changed and it's our principle. It's about staying true to that - not getting over frustrated. We can bring some of this into the next game, but frustration is not going to win games. Completing passes, scoring goals and being strong defensively - this is what's going to win games moving forward and we need to make sure we're balanced in our feeling."

ALEJANDRO POZUELO - MIDFIELDER, TORONTO FC

Why did you change things up and try to pass the penalty to Pablo (Piatti)?

"Yeah, we made the decision. We don't feel bad as we made the decision before the game. We speak and do this decision. I think the referee also needs to check the VAR because in other countries, they shoot like this and the referee don't say nothing. But we need to continue. We scored but the referee put the goal out.

Did you get an explanation for the disallowed goal?

"We don't know. I speak with him in the second half. We saw the video in the dressing room. I think normally this is a goal. I saw in other countries they score like this and I don't know why they say, "No Goal." Even checking the VAR also, I saw two Montreal players inside. Normally, he needs to redo the penalty, to shoot again the penalty but we don't know what exactly he did.

You were visibly frustrated on the broadcast. How would you describe the match and how it went?

"Yeah because I don't like to lose. I think we had a good game, we played a good game. We had a lot of chances. I think they only had one chance and they scored. In the second half, we had all the control of the game. We had one chance for Jozy, one for me, one for Pablo - I think we need to control the whole game. Normally we have a lot of chances to win, but frustration with this as I don't like to lose.

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