In a thrilling encounter at BMO Field on April 30, 2025, Toronto FC faced off against their long-time rivals CF Montréal in the preliminary round of the TELUS Canadian Championship. The match ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw after 90 minutes, with Montréal ultimately triumphing 3-2 in the penalty shootout, marking their first competitive win of the year.
Toronto FC head coach Robin Fraser emphasized the importance of the Canadian Championship, stating, "This is not a throwaway tournament for us." However, his team’s inability to secure a win has left them still searching for their first home victory since September 2024. Following the match, Fraser expressed his disappointment, saying, "Incredibly disappointed. Disappointed because we lost not one lead, but two. We certainly felt like we did enough to win the game."
Despite the loss, Toronto FC had some bright moments. Theo Corbeanu opened the scoring in the 29th minute, showcasing his skill by dribbling past Montréal defenders before unleashing a powerful shot that deflected off Samuel Piette and looped over goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois. This goal not only marked Corbeanu's first in the Canadian Championship but also ended TFC's 378-minute scoring drought at home. The crowd of 20,265 erupted with joy as Corbeanu celebrated with a slide towards the corner flag.
However, the lead was short-lived. CF Montréal responded with an equalizer in the 70th minute, as Joel Waterman capitalized on a corner kick, volleying a cross from Luca Petrasso into the net. Just three minutes later, Toronto regained the lead when Corbeanu turned provider, setting up Tyrese Spicer for a well-placed shot, making it 2-1.
But TFC’s hopes were dashed in the dying moments of the match. In the 88th minute, substitute Giacomo Vrioni scored an acrobatic goal, volleying a cross from Tom Pearce to level the score at 2-2. This stunning equalizer sent the match into penalties, where the tension reached a boiling point.
In the shootout, Jonathan Sirois emerged as the hero for Montréal, stopping penalties from Tyrese Spicer and Ola Brynhildsen. The visitors converted three of their four attempts, with Joel Waterman, Dante Sealy, and Dominic Iankov finding the net, while Tom Pearce missed his chance. For Toronto, Kobe Franklin and Alonso Coello scored, but Corbeanu's miss—sending his shot over the crossbar—proved costly.
With this result, CF Montréal advanced to the quarterfinals of the Canadian Championship, where they will face either Forge FC or Halifax Wanderers FC. Interim coach Marco Donadel celebrated his first victory at the helm of Montréal, expressing hope that this win would ignite a turnaround in their season after a dismal start. "I knew that sooner or later that things could turn in a good way for us," he remarked. "But these guys are unbelievable. This is the ninth away game out of 11. It means 18 flights. It means coming back at night nine times… We needed this energy."
For Toronto FC, the defeat adds to their woes as they have yet to secure a win at home this season and remain in a difficult position in MLS play, sitting at 1-5-4. With injuries plaguing their squad, including the loss of captain Jonathan Osorio to a shoulder injury early in the match, TFC was forced to adjust their lineup significantly. Fraser made six changes from the team that lost to New York City FC just days prior, bringing in players like Lorenzo Insigne and debutant Dékwon Barrow to fill the gaps.
Barrow, who started the match, became the sixth player to make his debut for Toronto this season. Despite the setback, he showed promise, contributing to the attack alongside Corbeanu.
As the Canadian Championship fades from view for Toronto, their focus now shifts entirely to the MLS season. They are set to host the New England Revolution on May 3, where they will look to bounce back from this heart-wrenching loss and finally secure a victory at BMO Field.
With the stakes high and the pressure mounting, Toronto FC must find a way to turn their fortunes around as they look ahead to the remainder of the season. The fans will be hoping for a display of resilience and determination as the team strives to reclaim their spot among the league's elite.
