It was supposed to be Toronto FC II’s home opener match at the Ontario Soccer Centre on July 4th but construction delays forced the match to be rescheduled for July 21st.
Now it’s here. The 401 Derby. TFC II vs. FC Montreal.
The Opposition
Montreal kick-off their five-game road trip in Toronto and will look to avenge the first battle between the two clubs.
TFC II spoiled Montreal’s home opener at Olympic Stadium on March 28th, taking home three points in a 2-0 win.
Montreal is coming off two consecutive wins at home, most recently beating Saint Louis FC 5-2.
The team is currently in last place in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 3-11-2 in 16 matches.
Players to Watch
FC Montreal Forward Charles Joly is surely on TFC II’s radar after an impressive hat trick performance against Saint Louis FC last week. All three of Joly’s goals came in the first half.
Midfielder Alessandro Riggi is another offence threat for Montreal as he leads the team in goals with five this season.
Long-Running Rivalry
It’s no surprise that the “401 Derby” rivalry between Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact has trickled down to the USL clubs of both teams.
When you talk about the biggest rivalries in Canada, Toronto vs. Montreal is at the top of the list. The historic rivalry between the two cities is widely known.
“It’s Ontario vs. Quebec. French vs. English. Toronto vs. Montreal. Habs vs. Leafs. That sort of rivalry runs deep,” said Head Coach Jason Bent to media before the match was rescheduled.
Defender Daniel Fabrizi is looking forward to the clash between the two Canadian rivals.
“It’s always a battle against Montreal. Last time we played them we were successful; we have to do the same tomorrow night,” he said.
Sal Bernal Returns to the Squad
TFC II forward Sal Bernal has finally rejoined the team following a lengthy delayed arrival due to visa and paperwork issues.
The 70th overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft hasn’t been with the team since preseason.
“It’s been a long process since like January so to finally be up here it’s an amazing feeling,” said an excited Bernal following training on Monday.
“I’ve been with UNLV [University of Nevada, Las Vegas] which is my University. They allowed me to train with them so I feel fit,” he added.
TFC II takes on FC Montreal this Tuesday, July 21st at the Ontario Soccer Centre at 8:00PM ET. Follow along on Twitter @TorontoFCII using the hashtag #TFCLive and watch the action via livestream at torontofc.ca/live
