Montreal embarrasses TFC to become 1st Canadian winner in MLS playoffs

The Montreal Impact made a mockery of its great rival Toronto FC in a 3-0 win to send the Quebecois outfit into the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Not since the Northeast blackout of 2003 had communication lines been as broken in Montreal as they were between the Reds' defensive ranks. Jackson's positioning was atrocious, Josh Williams appeared to be trundling around in his slippers and had the concentration of a jet-lagged toddler, and a midfield anchored by Michael Bradley and Benoit Cheyrou didn't possess any sort of bite.

Each first-half Impact goal - from Patrice Bernier, Ignacio Piatti, and Didier Drogba - highlighted TFC's inadequacies, and the accolade of becoming the first Canadian winner in the Major League Soccer playoffs came so, so easily for Montreal.

Drogba's goal came from a fantastic pass from the veteran Bernier, but it is no coincidence that it began with Jackson being caught in possession - who seemed reluctant to atone for his error - and was finished off with seven red shirts so close to one another you could throw a rubber ring over them.

By halftime at the Saputo Stadium, TFC's first foray into Major League Soccer's playoffs was effectively over. The second 45 minutes were but a mere formality.

The standing ovation Bernier received on his exit was deserved and a fitting tribute to the skipper who has been with the Impact since it became an MLS franchise in 2012. It was just his seventh start of the campaign, but the 36-year-old pulled the strings until he was substituted on 77 minutes.

Toronto FC hero and MVP frontrunner Sebastian Giovinco, meanwhile, was restricted to one decent free-kick that was beaten away by 'keeper Evan Bush, and the forward stumbled his way out of his debut MLS campaign with 282 goalless minutes.

In games when the little Italian didn't score this year, the BMO Field outfit possessed a W-D-L of 4-2-13.

A tough two-legged semifinal against the Columbus Crew now awaits Montreal, but with six straight wins at home and the continued form of Drogba, the Impact are certainly no pushover.