Toronto FC defeats Montreal 4-2 without its stars in Amway semi-final

TORONTO -- Jonathan Osorio and Jordan Hamilton each scored twice as Toronto FC showed off a made-in-Canada attack in a 4-2 win over the Montreal Impact in the first leg of their Amway Canadian Championship semifinal Wednesday night.

Montreal got two late goals to make it close: substitute Michael Salazar headed in a marvellous Didier Drogba cross in the 86th minute and then Drogba himself beat Clint Irwin with a free kick in stoppage time.

The two away goals make the second leg next Wednesday in Montreal far more interesting.

The Impact fielded the more established team on paper but failed to deliver for the first 85 minutes and were schooled by a young Toronto squad before an approving BMO Field crowd of 22,143 that included Raptors big man Bismack Biyombo.

Montreal was reduced to 10 men in first-half stoppage time when captain Patrice Bernier was shown a straight red for a studs-up tackle on Toronto midfielder Daniel Lovitz. An irate Lovitz bounced up and went after Bernier, precipitating a melee. He was fortunate to escape sanction from referee David Gantar for the retaliation.

With no Sebastian Giovinco (adductor), Jozy Altidore (hamstring) or captain Michael Bradley (Copa America), Toronto was without US$18.4 million worth of designated players based on their salaries this season.

Montreal was also missing players but was still able to start its first-string attack in Drogba, Ignacio Piatti, Dominic Oduro and Lucas Ontivero. Despite the stars on display, Montreal was listless in the first half and trailed 2-0 at the break.

Toronto's starting 11 had 21 career MLS regular-season goals between them, compared to 121 for Montreal.

Each team started four Canadians: Osorio, Hamilton, Ashtone Morgan and Mo Babouli for Toronto and Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, Wandrille Lefevre, Kyle Bekker and Bernier for Montreal.

Veteran midfielder Benoit Cheyrou, in his first action since April 2 due to a quad injury and suspension, captained Toronto.

Osorio, a 23-year-old attacking midielder from Brampton, Ont., opened the scoring in the 13th minute, able to corral a Morgan cross at the edge of the six-yard box and knock it in before the Impact defence reacted. He scored again in the 34th, slotting in a Babouli cross from a Morgan thrown-in. The ball went to a lunging Hamilton first and then bounced back to Osorio, who again found separation from the defence.

Montreal's best chance late in the first half came from a long-distance Drogba free kick that flew just high. A first-half Oduro goal was whistled offside.

Hamilton, a 20-year-old forward from Toronto, made it 3-0 in the 60th minute, skillfully making room for a shot after a nice flick-on from Babouli and deft pass from Cheyrou. He scored again in the 80th with a beautiful move to create space for the shot after a fine pass from Steven Beitashour.

The Impact had trouble breaking down the Toronto defence and were often reduced to stroking the ball around in their own half.

The tournament winner advances to the CONCACAF Champions League where a berth in the FIFA Club World Cup is up for grabs.

Toronto has won the title four times to Montreal's three and Vancouver's one.

The Impact eliminated Toronto at the semifinal stage last year via an 84th-minute goal in the second leg by Oduro, a former TFC player. Toronto won the game 3-2 but Montreal advanced to the final on the away goals rule with the series tied 3-3.

Montreal rubbed salt in the wound with a pair of wins at the end of the 2015 season. A 2-1 loss in Montreal last October dropped Toronto down the standings, forcing them to make their franchise post-season debut on the road -- in Montreal, where they were drubbed 3-0.

A 2-0 league win over the Impact in April helped restore some pride. That marked the start of a six-game winless streak (0-2-4) for Montreal (5-4-4), which finally ended last weekend with a 3-2 victory over the visiting L.A. Galaxy.

Toronto (4-5-4) is winless in four (0-2-2) in league play and has failed to score in 228 minutes.

TFC was also missing midfielder Will Johnson, who is away with Canada. Mark Bloom, Josh Williams and Tsubasa Endoh were injured.

Montreal fielded a makeshift backline with Laurent Ciman (Belgium) and Ambroise Oyongo (Cameroon) away on international duty and Victor Cabrera and Donny Toia both injured. Midfelders Marco Donadel and Calum Mallace were also injured.

Backup Erik Kronberg started in goal, making a fine stop on a swerving Cheyrou shot in the 54th minute.

Salazar missed a tap-in on another glorious Drogba cross in the 75th minute.