Achi news desk-
Matty Longstaff broke the deadlock in the 50th minute and Toronto FC went on to defeat semi-pro CS Saint-Laurent 3-0 in the opening leg of the Canadian Championship quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Longstaff fired a shot past goalkeeper Kosta Maniatis into the top right corner after Kassius Mailola’s back pass inside the box.
DeAndre Kerr scored in the 59th minute and second-half substitute Federico Bernardeschi scored on a free kick in the 76th minute as Toronto killed Saint Laurent’s Cinderella run.
Goalkeeper Luca Gabran earned a clean sheet.
Saint Laurent upset Canadian Premier League side Halifax Wanderers FC 2-2 (5-3) in a penalty shoot-out last Thursday to set up a showdown against Premier League favorites TFC.
The Quebec Ligue 1 champion was the first team from the league to reach this stage of the competition.
An announced attendance of 6,482 fans – including some who lit flares in the stands – cheered every touch and confirmation of Saint Laurent on a rainy 9°C night at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.
Many Saint Laurent players juggle school and two jobs while training four times a week.
Meanwhile, Italian stars Lorenzo Insigne and Bernardeschi earned $15.4 million and $6.3 million, respectively, last season for Toronto.
The second leg is on May 21 at BMO Field and the winner will face MLS’s Montreal CF or CPL’s Forge FC in the semi-finals. Both teams are tied 1-1 in the first game summary.
Atletico Ottawa and Pacific FC of the CPL played to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.
TFC made eight changes from the starting 11 that beat FC Dallas 3-1 on Saturday. Captain and veteran Canadian national team player Jonathan Osorio presided over the opening.
Toronto dispatched the Ontario Division 1 Simcoe County Rovers 5-0 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Saint Laurent gave their fans plenty to celebrate by putting TFC off the lead in the first half. Toronto dominated with 66 percent possession, but only led in shot attempts 10-9.
Center Nathan Gault prevented Toronto from taking an early lead with a goal line save in the seventh minute. Osorio fired into an open net after Manitis dived to save, only to be denied by Gault.
Manitis stopped Kerr with a partial break in the 13th minute as the crowd erupted.
Saint Laurent began to apply pressure. Osama Bouganemi sent a free kick from a dangerous area over the goal in the 23rd minute.
Loic Comey had another chance from the edge of the box in the 41st, but also sailed it over the net.
After Longstaff opened the scoring, Comey pressed with an attempt that appeared to hit a defender’s hand, but was not called out. Toronto pounced on the counterattack and Kerr scored with a shot off the crossbar.
Toronto extended their lead when Bernardeschi’s free kick tricked Maniatis.
Saint Laurent captain Wesley Wanda had a golden opportunity for Saint Laurent in the 81st minute but was unable to beat Gavran.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 8, 2024.
