401 Derby

401 Derby
Locale Toronto and Montreal
Teams Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact
First contested 2008
Most recent meeting October 18, 2014 (TFC 1 – 1 MTL)
Statistics
Number of meetings 20
Most wins Toronto (10 wins)
All-time series TFC lead 10–4–6
Largest victory MTL 6–0 TFC
(May 1, 2013)

The 401 Derby is a rivalry between two of Major League Soccer's Canadian clubs, Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact.[1][2][3] Named after Ontario Highway 401, which connects the two cities, the rivalry is widely considered to be one of the most intense soccer rivalries in Canada,[4] stemming from other sporting rivalries between Toronto and Montreal.

Rivalry

History

Marco Vélez scored the first ever 401 derby goal, in the 2008 Canadian Championship.

The first professional soccer clubs to be played in either Toronto or Montreal were the Toronto Metros and Montreal Olympique, who both began play in 1971. The two teams played infrequently due to consistent relocation and expansion/contraction in the old North American Soccer League. Throughout the 1980s, different teams from both respective metropolicies formed and folded, rarely aligned with one another at the same season.

In 1992, the original Montreal Impact side formed by the Saputo family, following the demise of Montreal Supra and its league (the Canadian Soccer League). They became a dominant club in the American Professional Soccer League (1993–1996) and the A-League (1997–2003), renamed the USL First Division (2004). The team did not compete during the 1999 A-League season. Their main rivals were the Rochester Rhinos and the Toronto Lynx prior to the latter's move to the USL Premier Development League.

The modern day rivalry involving Toronto FC came into frutation during the first ever Canadian Championship, Canada's domestic cup competition that was formed in 2008. The tournament is used as well to determine Canada's sole berth into the CONCACAF Champions League. It was the 2008 edition of the tournament where Montreal and Toronto played their first competitive game against one another. Played on May 27, 2008, Toronto emerged victorious 1–0 over thanks to a Marco Vélez goal in the 72nd minute in front of a crowd of 12,303 at Stade Saputo.[5] Toronto, being the lone MLS team in the tournament, despite being one of the poorer MLS sides, was expected to ultimately win the tournament. Ultimately, though, the Impact ended up winning the three-way tournament, against Toronto and Vancouver Whitecaps, achieving the first Voyageurs Cup after posting a 2–1–1 record. The title was achieved by Montreal against Toronto on Toronto's home ground, BMO Field. The 1–1 draw which gave Montreal the title on Toronto's home soil further fueled the rivalry. By winning that title, Montreal earned a berth into the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League where they reached the quarterfinals. There, they lost to Mexican outfit, Santos Laguna.

Toronto got revenge on the Montreal the following Canadian Championship by scoring six unanswered goals in a come-from-behind 6–1 win at Stade Saputo. Toronto captain, Dwayne De Rosario netted a hat trick in the match. The match also secured Toronto's place in the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League, where they did not fare as well as the Impact, only reaching the preliminary round of the tournament. The Reds continued their reign of dominance in the 2010 edition of the Canadian Championship, beating Montreal in both the home and away legs of the competition, tallying an aggregate score of 3–0 during that time. With the arrival of FC Edmonton, the 2011 edition of the competition did see either the Impact or the Reds meet each other.

It was around this time that it was announced that the Impact would be "promoted" to Major League Soccer at the start of the 2012. The announced officially came from MLS commissioner, Don Garber and the Saputo family on May 7, 2010.[6] Interestingly, on June 14, 2011, the Montreal Impact announced a five-year agreement with the Bank of Montreal to become their lead sponsor and jersey sponsor in MLS, the same kit sponsor of Toronto.[7]

Montreal and Toronto played their first MLS competition on April 7, 2012.[8] Played in front of a crowd of 24,000 at Olympic Stadium, the Impact emerged victorious, 2–1, over the Reds. Bosnian, Siniša Ubiparipović netted the opening goal of the 401 derby in MLS competitions, scoring for Montreal in the 18th minute. Andrew Wenger, the first pick of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, netted in the 81st minute to give the Impact the game-winning goal. Dutch international, Danny Koevermans netted a consolation goal for Toronto in the 88th minute. In 2013, the Reds and Impact split the series 1–1–1. A crowd of 38,000 of was on hand to watch the first match of the 2013 series, where Montreal won 2–1. Additionally, in 2013, the Impact won their first Canadian Championship since joining MLS. During their 2013 Canadian Championship run, the Impact defeated Toronto by a 6–0 scoreline, to date, the largest margin of victory in the derby history.[9] It was a six-goal comeback as the Impact lost the first leg of the series, 2–0, to Toronto. In Champions League play, the Impact came second in their group, narrowly missing out on advancing, finishing short on goal differential to American outfit, San Jose Earthquakes.

In the 2013–14 MLS offseason, Toronto made headlines signing several high profile players including Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley, and Julio Cesar. The two sides will meet again in league play on August 3, 2014.

Supporters

The U-Sector and Red Patch Boys supporters at a Toronto FC home fixture.

Off the field, there is intense rivalry between the supporters groups of Toronto and Montreal. Toronto's prominent supporters' groups are U-Sector and Red Patch Boys.[10] In addition to Toronto FC; the U-Sector also support the Canadian national team, and the TFC Academy teams. Additionally, the club is supported by several other supporter's groups including Original 109 who sit in Section 109 of BMO Field, SG114 who sit in Section 114, and the Tribal Rhythm Nation who represent the African, Caribbean and Latin American communities in the Greater Toronto Area.

The largest, and oldest supporters group for the Impact is Ultras Montréal, who are also known as UM02, for the year the supporters club was founded (2002). Additionally, the Impact are supported by 127 Montréal. 127 Montréal formed in 2011, around the time the Impact were in transition from NASL to MLS. In 2011, the Montreal Impact Supporters Association was created to better facilitate the relations between the Club and the Supporters Groups, to promote the supporters culture, and to help with the financing of different supporter group initiatives.

Stadium

Stade Saputo is the home ground for Montreal Impact.

Both Toronto and Montreal play in soccer-specific stadiums and have for their entire existence. Toronto FC calls BMO Field their home, while Montreal Impact call Stade Saputo their home. For marquee matchups, such as games against acclaimed opponents, rivals, or Champions League fixtures, as well as winter-time matches, both teams sometimes play in larger, indoor stadiums in their respective region. Toronto FC has played several games at Rogers Centre while Montreal Impact have played their share of games at Olympic Stadium, which is within walking distance of Stade Saputo.

Toronto's BMO Field is located in Exhibition Place of the city, near the banks of Lake Ontario. Stade Saputo is located along the border of Montreal's Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension district and Parc Olympique district. BMO Field currently sits 21,566 (being expanded to sit 30,000 by May 2015) while Stade Saputo currently sits 20,521.

Results

For statistical purposes, this table includes the NASL edition of the Montreal Impact.

As of August 3, 2014
Matches Wins Draws Goals Home wins Home draws Away wins
MTL TFC MTL TFC MTL TFC MTL TFC MTL TFC
Major League Soccer 8 2 3 3 8 12 2 1 0 3 0 2
MLS Cup Playoffs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Canadian Championship 12 2 7 3 10 17 2 4 1 2 0 3
CONCACAF Champions League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All competitions 20 4 10 6 18 29 4 5 1 5 0 5
Friendly/other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
All matches 20 4 10 6 18 29 4 5 1 5 0 5
Competition Date Home team Result Away team Attendance
2008 Canadian Championship May 27, 2008 Montreal
0–1
Toronto 12,083
July 22, 2008 Toronto
1–1
Montreal 19,872
2009 Canadian Championship May 13, 2009 Toronto
1–0
Montreal 19,811
June 18, 2009 Montreal
1–6
Toronto 11,561
2010 Canadian Championship April 28, 2010 Toronto
2–0
Montreal 21,436
May 12, 2010 Montreal
0–1
Toronto 10,737
Major League Soccer April 7, 2012 Montreal
2–1
Toronto 23,120
2012 Canadian Championship May 2, 2012 Montreal
0–0
Toronto 13,405
May 9, 2012 Toronto
2–0
Montreal 15,016
Major League Soccer June 27, 2012 Montreal
0–3
Toronto 14,412
October 20, 2012 Toronto
0–0
Montreal 16,151
March 16, 2013 Montreal
2–1
Toronto 37,896
2013 Canadian Championship April 24, 2013 Toronto
2–0
Montreal 11,043
May 1, 2013 Montreal
6–0
Toronto 14,931
Major League Soccer July 3, 2013 Toronto
3–3
Montreal 21,700
October 26, 2013 Toronto
1–0
Montreal 13,211
2014 Canadian Championship May 28, 2014 Toronto
1–1
Montreal 18,269
June 4, 2014 Montreal
1–0
Toronto 13,423
Major League Soccer August 2, 2014 Montreal
0–2
Toronto 16,655
October 18, 2014 Toronto
1–1
Montreal 15,242
2015 Canadian Championship May 6, 2015 Montreal
Toronto
May 13, 2015 Toronto
Montreal
Major League Soccer June 24, 2015 Toronto
Montreal
August 29, 2015 Toronto
Montreal
October 25, 2015 Montreal
Toronto

Records

401 Derby all time top goalscorers

As of November 25, 2014
Pos Name Club Nationality Goals
1 Marco Di Vaio Montreal Impact  Italy 4
Dwayne De Rosario Toronto FC  Canada
3 Chad Barrett Toronto FC  United States 3
Andrés Romero Montreal Impact  Argentina
5 Robert Earnshaw Toronto FC  Wales 2
Felipe Montreal Impact  Brazil
Justin Mapp Montreal Impact  United States
Doneil Henry Toronto FC  Canada
Amado Guevara Toronto FC  Honduras
Ryan Johnson Toronto FC  United States
Andrew Wenger Montreal Impact  United States
Danny Koevermans Toronto FC  Netherlands

Bolded players are still active players with the team.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hylton, Kamal (March 18, 2013). "TFC Dropped by Impact in 401 Derby Clash". Soccer NewsDay. SoccerNewsDay.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  2. ↑ "The 401 Derby, Round 1 - Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact: The Storystream". Walkingthered.com.
  3. ↑ Palmitesta, Luis (April 7, 2012). "401 Derby – Montreal vs Toronto – Impact needs small tweaks". Global Football Today. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  4. ↑ Borg, Simon. "Circle your calendars: 2014 MLS Canadian rivalry matches that will be showcased on national TV". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ Basu, Arpon (May 27, 2008). "Velez gives Toronto FC 1-0 win over Impact". Toronto Star. TheStar.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  6. ↑ Freedman, Jonah (May 7, 2010). ""Passionate" Montreal named as 19th MLS city". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Montreal 2-1 Toronto". MLSSoccer.com.
  9. ↑ Tremblay, Oliver (May 1, 2013). "Montreal Impact 6, Toronto FC 0 | Canadian Championship Match Recap". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Supporters Clubs | Toronto FC". Torontofc.ca. Retrieved February 1, 2014.