As we eagerly await the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship between the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC, this Wednesday at 7pm (RDS, TSN, FS1, Fox Deportes, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690) at BMO Field, the time is right to remember past Impact appearances at the playoff semifinals stage of the many leagues in which the Bleu-blanc-noir has played since its inception in 1993.
This year, the Impact reached the semifinals for the tenth time in its history. During its time in the APSL and in the A-League, the playoff format was surprising: home-and-away series where draws did not exist – if tied after 90 minutes, they were going straight to penalties to decide a winner – and if the shares were split, a 30-minute overtime mini-game to determine who goes through, or a best of three series in which the best-ranked team would host twice its opponent. North American leagues would eventually adopt the popular home-and-away goal aggregate series which we now know in MLS, in the CONCACAF Champions League and in a bunch of competitions with knockout stages around the world.
An impressive fact comes out of these semifinals appearances: each time the Impact has gone through to the final, the club has gone on to lift the trophy.
APSL 1994
Home-and-away semifinals v. Los Angeles Salsa
First leg: IMFC 2-1 LA at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
Second leg: LA 3-0 IMFC at Titan Stadium
0-0 after extra time, Impact wins 2-1 on penalties
APSL 1995
Home-and-away semifinals v. Atlanta Ruckus
First leg: Atlanta 1-1 IMFC (lost 2-1 after penalties) at Adams Stadium
Second leg: IMFC 3-0 Atlanta at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
0-0 after extra time, Ruckus wins 3-1 on penalties
A-League 1996
Best of three semifinals v. Rochester Rhinos
Game #1: IMFC 2-3 Rochester at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
Game #2: Rochester 0-3 IMFC at Frontier Field
Game #3: IMFC 1-2 Rochester at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
USL A-League 2004
Home-and-away conference final on goal aggregate v. Syracuse Salty Dogs
First leg: Syracuse 0-2 IMFC at P&C Stadium
Second leg: IMFC 1-1 Syracuse at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
USL 2005
Home-and-away semifinals on goal aggregate v. Seattle Sounders
First leg: Seattle 2-2 IMFC at Starfire Complex
Second leg: IMFC 1-2 Seattle at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
USL 2006
Home-and-away semifinals on goal aggregate v. Vancouver Whitecaps
First leg: Vancouver 0-0 IMFC at Swangard Stadium
Second leg: IMFC 0-0 Vancouver (0-2 after extra time) at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard
USL 2008
Home-and-away semifinals on goal aggregate v. Vancouver Whitecaps
First leg: IMFC 1-0 Vancouver at Stade Saputo
Second leg: Vancouver 2-0 IMFC at Swangard Stadium
USL 2009
Home-and-away semifinals on goal aggregate v. Puerto Rico Islanders
First leg: IMFC 2-1 Puerto Rico at Stade Saputo
Second leg: Puerto Rico 1-2 IMFC at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
USL 2010
Home-and-away semifinals on goal aggregate v. Carolina RailHawks
First leg: IMFC 1-0 Carolina at Stade Saputo
Second leg: Carolina 2-0 IMFC at WakeMed Soccer Park
Even though Quebec’s motto is “Je me souviens”, the past offers no guarantees for the future. The Impact has 90 minutes to qualify for the MLS Cup final for the first time in its history. Here are the different scenarios which would send the Bleu-blanc-noir to Seattle on December 10 for the ultimate battle.
