On Thursday, Toronto FC needed to win by at least four goals over the Montreal Impact to win the Canadian Nutrilite Championship and represent Canada in the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League. Toronto put in six goals, winning 6-1 with an epic attacking display to earn the first trophy in team history.
With the heavens pouring down to add to the night’s drama, the Impact scored first on a penalty after newly acquired Toronto defender Nick Garcia tripped Peter Byers in the penalty area. The goal meant that Toronto needed a seemingly unattainable five goals. Led Dwayne de Rosario, Toronto was up to the challenge. Rosario tied the game in the 30th minute with a magnificent overhead kick. De Rosario scored another before halftime with an angled shot that glanced off a defender and into the net.
At the break, Toronto’s interim coach Chris Cummins brought on Chad Barrett, a move that proved to make the difference in the game. Barrett slotted De Rosario through early in the second half allowing De Rosario to complete the first-ever hat trick in the competition. Amado Guevara netted a free kick before Chad Barrett scored off a Guevara corner to make it 5-1, sending thousands of the traveling Toronto fans into delerium. Barrett unlocked the Impact defense one last time with a flick in the penalty box that Guevara calmly slotted inside the right post.