The Montreal Impact held on for a 3-2 win against Toronto FC in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference final first leg at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
Dominic Oduro struck first for Montreal, latching onto a Patrice Bernier pass following a Toronto turnover, striding into the penalty area and slotting a clinical finish past TFC goalkeeper Clint Irwin.
Minutes later, Oduro would help start the move that doubled the Impact's lead. The Ghanaian volleyed over the Toronto defense to an onrushing Ignacio Piatti, whose perfectly placed cross was buried into the back of the net by Matteo Mancosu.
Toronto talisman Sebastian Giovinco nearly cut into the hosts' lead with a fine individual effort to get in behind the Montreal defense, but the Italian's curled effort from 12 yards out bent wide of Evan Bush's goal.
Montreal added to its lead early in the second half, when Ambroise Oyongo turned Toronto over at midfield, dribbled all the way to the visitor's 18-yard box and struck a low, line drive past a diving Irwin for a 3-0 lead.
Desperately seeking an away goal as a lifeline, Jozy Altidore delivered for Toronto in the 68th minute. Following a goalmouth scramble, Giovinco curled a delicate cross to the U.S. international who powered a header past Bush to cut the lead to 3-1.
Mauro Biello went to his bench following Toronto's first, bringing on super-sub Didier Drogba to help see out the game, but things had already turned Toronto's way.
A nice sequence from the Reds in the 73rd minute set up Michael Bradley from 12 yards out and he side-footed a first-time shot into the back of the net to make it 3-2 and give Toronto a crucial second away goal.
The match started slightly over 40 minutes late after officials realized the penalty area lines had been drawn at the wrong dimensions and were forced to repaint them ahead of kick off.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday, Nov. 27, in Toronto for the second leg at BMO Field.