Less than a week after their most recent matchup, Toronto FC and Montreal Impact will meet again, and this time there is almost no room for error. Big mistakes can cost a team their road to elimination while only one of this two Canadian teams can continue down the road to the MLS Cup and become the first team from the Maple Leaf nation to win it.
In order to get to where they are at, there have been some key players on each side, but there are two that have stolen the spotlight from the rest of their teammates. Sebastian Giovinco is the man to follow in Toronto FC and Didier Drogba has the same role for Montreal Impact.
Sebastian Giovinco
Born in Torino, Italy, Giovinco has become one of Toronto FC fans' favorite player. The 28-year old player left Juventus at the beginning of this year to start a new adventure. With an uncertain future ahead of him, after having played for Juve and Parma his whole career, not many could have predicted for him to have the success he is finding in his first season. His early season was shadowed by the arrival of Kaká, Lampard, Pirlo and others.
For him, that did not matter. He leads the second strongest offense in the league with 22 goals out of the 58 scored by his team. He was also the league-leader in assists with 16. With those incredible stats, he became the first player in the history of the MLS to lead both the scoring and assisting departments.
Most of the 22 goals scored by the Italian striker were great to watch. He scored from open play, penalty
WATCH: Giovinco's goal that clinched Toronto FC a playoff spot
Sebastian Giovinco was able to leave Juventus as a free transfer. He may have missed his opportunity to play in the Champions League
Giovinco's stats speak for themselves
..And there are STILL some arguing against Giovinco being the #MLS MVP. #TFClive pic.twitter.com/Qw5KvdwMc5
— Marco D'Onofrio (@Kubani7) October 27, 2015
GRAPHIC: MLS Player of the Season - Sebastian Giovinco @torontofc pic.twitter.com/6w4fDNsh4c
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 26, 2015
Giovinco is the first Italian to win top goalscorer in the MLS. 22 goals, 16 assists! Grande Seba! pic.twitter.com/gcW1iWsyKK
— Marco Messina (@Marcocalcio22) October 26, 2015
Didider Drogba
A bench warmer with Chelsea last season, a monster with Montreal Impact this season. Drogba is living up to the hype created by Montreal residents when he arrived at the airport and hundreds of fans were waiting for him. In eleven games played since his debut, Drogba has scored the same amount of goals.
Many people claim that if he had started the season back in March, he may have had the chance to steal Giovinco's spot as the goalscoring leader. At 37, Drogba has shown the world that his career is not over. Ever since he started playing for Montreal, the team has had a great run and only lost two of their last eleven matches (7-2-2).
The Ivory Coast striker was about to fall short of his 11 in 11 record but he solved it all in two minutes against Toronto FC, last Sunday. One after the other, even before the TV broadcast came back from the replay of his first goal, Drogba had turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead favoring his team.
WATCH: Drogba's heel saves the day for Montreal Impact
Don't act like you are not impressed
Make that 2 for Drogba. Good lord.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) October 25, 2015
Moments after scoring his two goals, Drogba fell to the ground due to a rough challenge from Ahmed Kantari. He was treated by the sidelines and was able to come back for the last minutes of the game. Hours ahead of the playoff match, Mauro Biello is counting on his star striker for the most important game of the season.
There is hope that Drogba will play during the playoffs
Yes, that is Didier Drogba under that scarf and tuque during chilly #Impact practice this morning #IMFC pic.twitter.com/GWtX3nb3n4
— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) October 27, 2015
And I sure hope Drogba is alright for midweek. That fake injury was disgusting. Quality goals, but same old Drogba.
— Gareth Wheeler (@WheelerTSN) October 25, 2015
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