Action from the Amway Canadian Championship final, first leg match between Toronto FC (red jersey) and the visiting Montreal Impact on May 28, 2014, at BMO Field. (Photo courtesy of Toronto FC via Paul Giamou)
TORONTO – Justin Mapp struck for a brilliant goal in the second half, rallying the Montreal Impact to a 1-1 draw with host Toronto FC in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final on Wednesday at BMO Field.
The sides will meet again on June 4 at the Stade Saputo to decide the title and Canada’s representative in the 2014/15 CONCACAF Champions League.
Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute, when defender Doneil Henry powered a header past goalkeeper Evan Bush and under the crossbar off a corner kick by Daniel Lovitz.
The defending champion leveled in the 73rd minute thanks to a moment of magic from Mapp, who dribbled down the right wing, cut towards the middle and snapped a left-footed effort from the top of the box that left goalkeeper Joe Bendik with no chance.
“It was a slow start for us,” said Impact head coach Frank Klopas. “We got beat on another set piece, but we maintained after that. The second half we came out as a different team. We competed better and Justin Mapp scored a beautiful goal.”
The CONCACAF Champions League draw earlier in the evening established that the Amway Canadian Championship winner will meet the USA’s New York Red Bulls and FAS of El Salvador in Group 3 play.
