Slow-building rivalry between Impact and TFC likely to heat up in playoffs
MONTREAL — There’s nothing like a playoff meeting with a trip to the MLS Cup final on the line to heat up the rivalry between the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC.
The opening leg of the two-game, total-goals Eastern Conference final on Nov. 22 will be the sixth meeting of the year between the clubs from Canada’s two largest cities, whose fans already trade nasty chants.
But this game, and the return leg Nov. 30 in Toronto, will be their biggest showdown since Montreal joined MLS in 2012.
“It’s Toronto-Montreal, so I think the hatred is built in from the start,” Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush said Friday. “You don’t have to play them six times to figure that out.