Challenging to the very end, Montreal’s last attempt came on a set play in the third of four minutes of added time. Romero’s cross sailed into the six-metre box and was met by Matteo Ferrari. The Italian central defender headed it towards the inside of the near post, picking a spot that was defended by five-foot-eight, 146-pound Rolfe rather than Johnson, a six-foot-three, 217-pounder.

Asked if the change in formation was something that would be repeated in the future, coach Schallibaum, replied, “As a coach you have to be flexible and able to put something fresh into the game. Today it worked well with everyone playing well together. Paponi did well, for his first time, getting a goal."

“I think that Joe did well,” Rennie said. “I think he’s done well all preseason, all training camp, and Brad’s done fairly well, too."

“I thought tonight our players showed everything about a Canadian football team that we would expect in terms of heart, commitment, endeavour, everything.”

The Impact pressed the host Fire early, and took a 1-0 lead thanks to some guile from striker Marco Di Vaio, but the Impact’s experience in the defence was outweighed by its lack of movement, as it surrendered three unanswered goals.

But, mistakes from keeper Milos Kocic, who took a knee to the head in the first half and was bleeding from both nostrils, and defender Logan Emory helped undo Toronto FC’s efforts for the evening.

Koevermans won the balloting from the North American Soccer Reporters after scoring two goals over the course of a Toronto FC win and draw.

"I think if we score two goals we should win the game, so it's our fault to give up three goals," Johnson said. "These mistakes are killing us and it's killing Toronto and our fans. It's hard to keep letting down our fans every week and it's really starting to get to me."

All Fire-d up! Dan Gargan was feeling exactly that on Sunday night after he scored a second-half insurance goal against his former club in Chicago Fire’s 2-0 win over Toronto FC at Toyota Park.

Fast forward to Sunday afternoon and, through a combination of inspired finishing, loose defensive play and some diabolical goalkeeping, the Whitecaps and Fire produced a six-goal thriller. The Whitecaps won 4-2 at Empire Field — and the Fire erased all doubt of who is the worst team in MLS at the moment.