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MLS Toronto FC

Toronto FC (2) - Montreal Impact (1) Post Game Summary

August 24, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Toronto FC News Release


TORONTO FC (2) - MONTREAL IMPACT (1) POST GAME SUMMARY

SCORING SUMMARY

MTL - Bojan 49'

TOR - Marky Delgado 63'

TOR - Justin Morrow 81' (Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley)

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

MTL - Bacary Sagna 8' (caution)

TOR - Nicolas Benezet 55' (caution)

TOR - Jozy Altidore 70' (caution)

TOR - Richie Laryea 73' (caution)

TOR - Justin Morrow 79' (caution)

RECORDS

Toronto FC 10-10-7 37 points.

Montreal Impact 10-14-4 34 points.

LINEUPS

TORONTO FC - Quentin Westberg; Justin Morrow, Chris Mavinga, Omar Gonzalez, Auro Jr; Michael Bradley (C); Marky Delgado, Nick DeLeon (Alejandro Pozuelo HT), Nicolas Benezet (Jonathan Osorio 80'), Erickson Gallardo (Richie Laryea 60'); Jozy Altidore.

Substitutes Not Used: Alex Bono, Drew Moor, Jacob Shaffelburg, Patrick Mullins

MONTREAL IMPACT - Evan Bush; Zachary Brault-Guillard, Bacary Sagna, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz; Ballou Tabla (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 69') (Jorge Corrales 83'), Ken Krolicki (Shamit Shome 90'+2); Saphir Taider, Lassi Lappalainen; Maximiliano Urruti, Bojan.

Substitutes Not Used: Clément Diop, Karifa Yao, Mathieu Choinière, Orji Okwonkwo

MEDIA NOTES:

Erickson Gallardo made his MLS debut.

Marky Delgado scored his first goal since October 28, 2018, vs. ATL at BMO Field.

Justin Morrow scored his first goal since July 4, 2014, @ MIN.

GREG VANNEY, HEAD COACH - TORONTO FC

On the way TFC battled back...

I thought we stayed organized the entire night which was on of our objectives if we are going to get into the playoffs. First half was a little slow and the second half, our objective was to extend the pressure and gain a little more of the edge. We gave up a goal from distance and that put a little bit more drive into the group, we adjusted a few things and I liked how we finished the game.

On Gallardo & Benezet's contribution...

Good, it is new, you can see how dynamic Gallardo is and I think we will harness that into the group, he is a young man who is still learning but he is explosive which is one of the things we were looking for. Nico is experienced, I liked him more when he came inside than wide, the second half he started to get more involved in things, as he continues to understand this league and his teammates he will continue to improve on his performances.

On the starting lineup & playing with 3 attackers...

I want this group to be connected defensively, we can't be stretched out all over the place, down the stretch to get to the playoffs you got to be a good defending team. You've got to make sure you can defend as a group if you are going to play 3 out and out attackers.

On Pozuelo being a possible attacking midfielder in the future...

He can. If he is committed to the defensive work. I think over the course of time he was on the field he split the defensive work with Nico (Benezet). That comes with accepting it and just doing it as well as getting used to your teammates.

JUSTIN MORROW, DEFENDER - TORONTO FC

On the great timing of his first goal of the season...

It feels good, it feels even better that it was against Montreal.

On the feeling of victory knowing what was at stake....

Credit to the guys, it was a big boost mentally to come back and win after going down early in the second half.

On TFC continuing to score goals in the last 15 minutes...

I think Greg did a good job to change the formation after we gave up the goal. After that it seemed like the game changed.

QUENTIN WESTBERG, GOALKEEPER - TORONTO FC

On the importance of the 3 points...

Very big, on top of showing great purpose and soccer skills we showed great mentality, it is a very good win overall.

On managing the tactical side as well as the emotional side...

At some point it is tactical and physical but ultimately it is the heart you put in and how bad we want it and how much more we wanted than the opponent, tonight being a derby it makes it more special, I think it was more than 3 points tonight

MICHAEL BRADLEY, MIDFIELDER - TORONTO FC

On the importance of 3 points...

It's a huge win, emotionally in terms of the standings, you can't understate how important a win it was, it's been a grind in every sense of the word, we've had great moments and we have had moments that we not so great. We have had moments where we have missed guys and had to put out different types of teams...With all the energy and emotion that comes with games against Montreal, everything would be cranked up a few notches

Some teams when go down a goal would get frustrated but that did not happen, what does that say about this team...

We feel great about that, the reality is that we are getting to that point of the season where if you don't find a way to turn things around your season is going to be done real quick, every game, every play and every point can be the difference between in or out, home playoff game or away playoff game, things are tight so there is a lot riding on every single game

How challenging is it to balance your emotions at the time of the season and the position you are in?

It has been that type of season, we started the season with out Jozy and Pozuelo, we have had good stretches and then stretches that were not so good, then we had players away at the Gold Cup and it has been choppy since then...there has been so little consistency and some of that is on us and others parts to that are just how the league is designed, as we get to this part of the season every point and every play can be the difference

WILMER CABRERA, HEAD COACH - MONTREAL IMPACT

What do you take from today's game?

We are disappointed with the result because we didn't come over here to lose. We had a plan and the plan was working but we have to play the whole 90 minutes. I think we have very positive things throughout the game that we need to grab, and we need to take for what is coming. We were aggressive but we have to continue being aggressive from the first line of our forward to continue creating the instability with our opponents. Now what we need to grasp, what we need to take is when we were aggressive, when we moved the ball quick, we created options that were good, we dominated, so can we translate that into more attacking. The next game is at home, for me I have a better idea about the players today, about the qualities and capacities and ideas being there. It is sad what happened with Anthony (Jackson) because he was motivated, and I know he wanted to play. In that moment that he got injured came the second goal. But that is the game, the game is not fair, the game is cruel sometimes. But now, they're upset the players, they're frustrated because we did a good job and we believed that we deserved more. We need to translate that frustration and being angry to prepare for the next one.

The team is below the playoffs line, do you think this will affect the players morale?

No, I don't think it is going to affect the guys morale, totally opposite. I saw them in the locker room, we talked and now we have to focus on Wednesday. We have five games at home, so it is on us, it's on us to make sure that with five games at home, if we put this and take a little bit more going forward, I believe in this team, I believe in these players that we have the capacity to qualify.

Do you have any more details on (Anthony) Jackson's injury?

It was his knee. They're checking, the doctors, and right now we don't have a clear answer. He felt something and was suffering a lot, but we have to wait for the doctors and their final decision.

KEN KROLICKI, MIDFIELDER - MONTREAL IMPACT

What made the difference for you today?

I've got to look at the game again, but I think we dropped too deep once we scored. I think we had absorbed much pressure and at the end they made a good play in the box.

Do you think it's a lack of confidence?

No, I don't think we lacked any confidence or anything like that. I think, as a team, we get a little bit careful with going forward because we had the lead in this difficult environment, so I think that made us drop a little bit deeper. We are confident in ourselves and I don't think that was the problem.

You are now below the red line (of the playoffs). How worrying is it for the team?

It's tough but at the end of the day we have to take it one game at a time anyways. I think we're not really worried, we just have to stay focused on one game, the next game against Vancouver. Every game from now on, except for LA is a home game so we have a little bit of an advantage there, so we have to stay focused on our next game.

BOJAN, FORWARD - MONTREAL IMPACT

Physically how do you feel right now?

I feel tired, obviously, because it was a long time ago that I played 90 minutes. But I feel good, that's the most important thing. I'm building my physical condition so I'm feeling every day better.

How would you say the locker room confidence is right now?

Everyone is disappointed because we are losing the game for the small details. Last game we have been talking about set pieces. It is football, we need to be strong because we are giving everything. We are playing good games, but we need to be strong until the end, play 90 minutes, fighting like we do because we are giving everything so everyone in the locker room is tired. In football, the most important thing is to score one more goal than the other team and in this moment we are disappointed.

On enjoying the goal...

I'm playing football because it is my life. Football has made me really happy and when I score, I'm even more (happy). Today we lost, but for me the most important (thing) is to score goals to try to win, to help the team, and today I'm happy because I scored but in general, I'm not happy because we lost.

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