Toronto FC secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over CF Montréal in Saturday's MLS encounter at BMO Field, turning the match on its head in an astonishing finale. Daniel Ríos had initially put the visitors ahead in the second half, silencing the home supporters as the clock ticked down. However, two goals deep into stoppage time completely transformed the landscape of the fixture, leaving the away side stunned.
The dramatic conclusion lifted Toronto FC to 32 points after 28 matches in the MLS standings, keeping them in 23rd position overall. For CF Montréal, the late collapse deepened their struggles at the foot of the table, leaving them rooted in 29th place with 24 points from their 28 games. Saturday's result added another chapter to the ongoing rivalry between the two sides following their goalless draw earlier in the campaign on 16 July 2026.
Entering this fixture, both teams carried distinct runs of form into the contest on Saturday, 10 October 2026. Toronto FC had experienced a turbulent period in recent weeks, recording a 2-0 defeat against Nashville SC, a 3-1 loss to St. Louis CITY SC, and a heavy 3-0 reverse against Orlando City SC. Their preceding fixtures also featured a 2-1 victory over Nashville SC and a chaotic 4-4 draw with Chicago Fire FC.
CF Montréal arrived with their own set of inconsistent results from their previous outings in the competition. They had managed a 3-1 win against FC Cincinnati, but that was preceded by three consecutive defeats against Columbus Crew by 2-0, Colorado Rapids by 1-0, and Charlotte FC by 2-1. An earlier 2-0 loss to Philadelphia Union rounded out that difficult stretch of matches for the visiting team.
The first half passed without goals as both defensive units managed to keep the opposing attacks at bay. Neither side could find the crucial breakthrough during the opening forty-five minutes despite creating opportunities to test the goalkeepers. The tactical battle remained tightly contested right up until the half-time interval, with the scoreline reflecting the parity on the pitch.
That equilibrium was broken shortly after the restart when the deadlock finally came undone. CF Montréal struck first through Daniel Ríos, whose left-footed shot from the centre of the area found the back of the net in the 51st minute. The goal gave the visitors a 1-0 lead and put them in a strong position to defend their advantage as the match entered its closing stages.
Disciplinary action soon followed the opening goal as the referee began to issue cards to manage the rising tensions. An unnamed CF Montréal player received the first yellow card of the match in the 55th minute. As the visitors tried to protect their narrow lead, further cautions were handed out to CF Montréal players in the 84th and 87th minutes.
Toronto FC mounted their decisive comeback as the match entered stoppage time at the end of the second half. Lewis Morgan equalised for the hosts in the 90+3rd minute with a left-footed shot from the left side of the area. That strike made the score 1-1 and completely shifted the momentum of the game in favour of the home side.
There was still time for a remarkable winner as Toronto FC struck again just moments later. Djordje Mihailovic scored in the 90+5th minute with a left-footed shot from very close range to complete the turnaround. That dramatic late effort made it 2-1 to Toronto FC, sending the home crowd into raptures.
Before the final whistle sounded, one final disciplinary action was recorded by the match officials. An unnamed Toronto FC player was shown a yellow card in the 90+6th minute. Soon after, the referee brought an end to the contest, confirming the 2-1 scoreline in favour of the hosts.
The match statistics illustrated how closely contested the overall encounter had been across the pitch. Toronto FC edged the possession statistics with 52 percent compared to CF Montréal's 48 percent. Despite the narrow possession split, the visitors actually registered more total attempts at goal over the course of the ninety minutes.
CF Montréal recorded 16 total shots while Toronto FC managed 14 attempts during the fixture. When it came to accuracy, the visitors also led the shot on target count with 7 efforts testing the goalkeeper against Toronto FC's 5. However, efficiency in the decisive moments proved to be the ultimate difference between the two teams.
Other statistical measures highlighted the competitive nature of the MLS fixture at BMO Field. Toronto FC earned 8 corners compared to CF Montréal's 6, providing the hosts with plenty of set-piece opportunities. The match was also notable for its physical nature, with CF Montréal committing 17 fouls while Toronto FC was penalised 9 times. Additionally, the assistant referees flagged offside on 4 occasions against Toronto FC and twice against CF Montréal.
Reflecting on the league table after this match, Toronto FC holds 32 points from their 28 games played. Their record now stands at 7 wins, 11 draws, and 10 defeats, with 41 goals scored and 52 conceded. This victory provides them with a much-needed three points as they look to climb higher than their current 23rd position.
CF Montréal remains in 29th place in the league standings following their 28th match of the season. Their overall record shows 6 wins, 6 draws, and 16 defeats, having scored 35 goals while conceding 56. The late defeat means they miss out on a valuable result that could have helped their position at the bottom of the table.
Both teams will now turn their attention to their upcoming fixtures in the MLS competition as the season progresses. Toronto FC will look to build upon the momentum gained from this dramatic late victory. CF Montréal, meanwhile, must regroup after this disappointing result and prepare for their next challenges on the calendar.
