Bernardeschi and Corbeanu star as Toronto gain Montreal ´redemption´

Toronto FC got their “redemption” over 10-man CF Montreal with a 6-1 demolition of their rivals at Stade Saputo on Saturday.

The Reds scored six goals in an MLS game for the first time in franchise history, as they avenged their penalty-shootout defeat by Montreal in the Canadian Championship earlier this month.

Tyrese Spicer broke the deadlock in the 14th minute and, after Joel Waterman was dismissed for the hosts seven minutes later, Federico Bernardeschi and Ola Brynhildsen then put Toronto 3-0 to the good before half-time.

Bernardeschi grabbed his second after the break, and although Giacomo Vrioni pulled a goal back for Montreal, Theo Corbeanu got in on the action off the bench with a brace of his own.

“This is our biggest rival in MLS,” Corbeanu said. “This is our biggest game of the season, really. We were waiting for this day, for weeks now, ever since the elimination in the Canadian Championship.

“Our main goal was to come here and get our redemption. Obviously to beat them by the amount that we beat them… and [as] our arch-rivals [it] is even better.

“The morale boost is great, and we need to take this energy going into the next games. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Six goals. One unforgettable day.

Toronto FC scored six goals in an MLS match for the first time in club history pic.twitter.com/SAjhiKKSX0

— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) May 18, 2025

Bernardeschi played a starring role for Toronto, also providing two assists as his side claimed only their third MLS win of the campaign.

And head coach Robin Fraser paid tribute to the Italian’s “super dangerous” performance.

“Fede was so dangerous almost every time he touched it,” he said. “It’s really fitting that he’s had a two-goal, two-assist day [because] I thought his decisions with the ball were really good.

“When he shares the ball like that, he becomes less predictable. And when he’s less predictable, he’s super dangerous.

“It’s a great day, and we’re going to enjoy it, but we know we have so much more to do, and we know that we have to make up for what was not a great start.”

Toronto’s victory was Saturday’s standout result in MLS Rivalry Week, with the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati and the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders each drawing 1-1 in their respective blockbuster clashes.

New York City FC beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0, while the Houston Dynamo defeated FC Dallas by the same scoreline.