Toronto FC beats semi-pro side CS Saint-Laurent 3-0 in Canadian Championship
Matty Longstaff broke a deadlock in the 50th minute and Toronto FC went on to defeat semi-pro side CS Saint-Laurent 3-0 in the opening leg of their Canadian Championship quarterfinal on Wednesday.
Longstaff blasted a shot past goalkeeper Kosta Maniatis into the top-right corner after a back pass from Cassius Mailula inside the box.
Deandre Kerr scored in the 59th minute and Federico Bernardeschi, who entered as a substitute in the second half, scored off a free kick in the 76th as Toronto dampened Saint-Laurent’s Cinderella run.
Goalkeeper Luka Gavran earned a clean sheet.
Saint-Laurent upset Canadian Premier League side Halifax Wanderers FC 2-2 (5-3) in a penalty shootout last Thursday to set up the matchup against heavily favoured TFC of Major League Soccer.
The Ligue1 Quebec champions were 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 with every Saint-Laurent touch and clearance on a rainy, 9 C night at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard.
Many Saint-Laurent players juggle school and up to two jobs while training four times a week.
Meanwhile, Italian stars Lorenzo Insigne and Bernardeschi earned US$15.4 million and $6.3 million, respectively, last season for Toronto.
The return leg is May 21 at BMO Field and the winner will meet either MLS’s CF Montreal or the CPL's Forge FC in the semifinal. The two teams are tied 1-1 on aggregate after the first leg.
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 longtime Canadian national team player Jonathan Osorio headlined the starters.
Toronto dispatched semi-pro side Simcoe County Rovers of League1 Ontario 5-0 to advance to the quarterfinal.
Saint-Laurent gave its fans much to celebrate by holding TFC off the scoresheet in the first half. Toronto dominated with 66 per cent of possession, but only led the shot attempts 10-9.
Centre back Nathan Goulet prevented Toronto from taking an early lead with a goal-line clearance in the seventh minute. Osorio shot towards an open net after Maniatis dived to make a save, only for Goulet to deny it.
Maniatis stopped Kerr on a partial break in the 13th minute as the crowd erupted.
Saint-Laurent then started putting the pressure on. Oussama Boughanmi sent a free kick from a dangerous area over the bar in the 23rd minute.
Loïc Kwemi had another chance from the edge of the box in the 41st, but also sailed it over the net.
After Longstaff opened the scoring, Kwemi pressured with an attempt that appeared to hit a defender’s hand but went uncalled. Toronto pounced on the counterattack and Kerr scored with a shot off the post.
Toronto increased its lead when Bernardeschi's free kick fooled Maniatis.
Saint-Laurent captain Wesley Wandje had a golden opportunity for Saint-Laurent in the 81st minute but couldn’t beat Gavran.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi still missing after helicopter accident in mountains
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday.
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who matched with a 15-year-old girl on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Toxic drugs circulating in northeastern Ont., police say
Canada’s largest First Nations police service, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service issued a community safety alert as extremely toxic drugs are likely circulating in many of the communities it serves.