:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52038487/usa_today_9697743.0.jpeg)
To all the die-hard fans of the Waking the Red prediction league, an apology.
The predictor article was completely missed by me ahead of the second of the Seattle-Colorado tie, so we have some making up to do ahead of the final two matches of the MLS season.
As a result, I’ve added a couple of new categories you to grab some points in when Toronto FC face the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference decider. First of all, here’s what the standings look like after the first legs:
| Name | Correct Scores | Correct Results | Points |
| James Grossi | 4 | 8 | 20 |
| Arjon | 4 | 6 | 18 |
| Philip Zivanovich | 3 | 8 | 17 |
| AnthonyT97 | 3 | 6 | 15 |
| Dawid Burzynski | 4 | 8 | 14 |
| Oliver Platt | 2 | 7 | 13 |
| HeavyRedFlow | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| pkarvanis | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| Jon Peckitt | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| Mark De Luca | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| AMS1984 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| stoppage_time | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Michael Veenstra | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| SaskTFCFan | 0 | 3 | 3 |
And here’s how you can score points on Wednesday evening:
- three points for the score on the night (not aggregate) at the final whistle (including extra time if played)
- one point for picking the team to advance (please state who you think will win the shootout if you have predicted an aggregate draw)
- three points for picking the first goalscorer in the game
- three points for guessing which TFC player makes the most tackles (again, extra time will be counted)
A few of our contributors’ predictions are below to kick things off and there’s a bit of a consensus developing...
Philip Zivanovich: After a pulsating first leg, TFC brings the game home to BMO with a win on their mind. Look for Sebastian Giovinco to score first after being held off the scoresheet in la belle province and give the Reds an early lead in the match. The battle for the centre of the field will be fun to watch, so look for Steven Beitashour to continue his strong presence by winning the most tackles during the course of the match. 2-1 (TFC advance on away goals), Giovinco, Beitashour.
Mark De Luca: Believe it or not, I feel Toronto has the upper hand going into this game. I think TFC will score first, but the Impact will come back quickly. Montreal has a strong attacking presence, and I find it hard to believe that they won't score at least one goal in this match. However, BMO Field is a fortress and TFC has been impressive at home this season. The score will be 1-1 going into the second half, but TFC will come out on top. Come on you Reds! 2-1 (TFC advance on away goals), Altidore, Moor.
Jon Peckitt: This game will start out at a much slower pace than the first leg in Montreal. Montreal will try to slow it down and suppress any kind of Toronto attack... that is, until Jozy smashes the game open with a first-half strike. After Giovinco makes it 2-0 in the second half, Montreal quickly answers to keep it a nail biter. 2-1 (TFC advance on away goals), Altidore, Moor.
Oliver Platt: I see the second leg being a much tighter affair than the first, not unlike the first leg of the New York City tie. I’m hoping for the same outcome, with TFC making the breakthrough late on after surviving one or two lucky escapes, BMO exploding and the Reds adding a second for good measure. 2-0, Osorio, Johnson.
Enjoy the match!