Toronto FC: The top 10 goals in franchise history
Benoit Cheyrou #8 of Toronto FC celebrates a goal. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
1. Benoit Cheyrou shocks Montreal
Let’s call a spade a spade. The 2016 two-legged playoff matchup between Toronto FC and Montreal Impact was the best MLS postseason series of all time, but for all of the great football that ensued, it got off to a rocky start.
The first leg at Olympic Stadium was delayed due to the erroneous painting of the 16-yard-box. However, as things got going, the hastily-painted lines on the pitch were the least of TFC’s concerns.
Just 53 minutes in, Montreal had jumped out to a three-goal lead. Altidore and Bradley pulled two goals back in the 68th and 73rd respectively, but the Reds still faced an uphill battle in the return leg.
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Back in Toronto, things took a turn for the worse when former TFC striker Dominic Oduro netted for Montreal in the 24th minute. The following 66 minutes were utter mayhem.
Montreal added one more strike, but TFC got goals from Altidore, as well as two unlikely sources in Armando Cooper and Nick Hagglund. But oh, the inclusion of unlikely sources is far from over in this entry.
At the end of the full 90, the score was tied on aggregate at five, with both teams having an even two away goals. Another half-hour would be needed to determine a winner.
A full-time starter in 2015, Benoit Cheyrou found himself out of favour in 2016, factoring into only 14 matches over the course of the regular season. However, his veteran guidance and leadership worked wonders in a young and diverse locker room, as his calming presence and international experience made him a wealth of information.
Perhaps this demeanor is why Greg Vanney tapped Cheyrou on the shoulder in the 96th minute of, to date, the most important match in club history. Exactly two minutes later, the French midfielder courageously dove head-first into a mix of cleats and shinguards to head home a Steven Beitashour cross to give Toronto FC a lead they would not relinquish.
Ricketts added another goal just two minutes later,. However, Cheyrou’s stood up as the winner and booked Toronto FC’s first-ever trip to the MLS Cup Final.
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Which is the most memorable goal in TFC history for you? Is there one that didn’t make the list that should have? Let us know in the comments below.