Sebastian Giovinco continues to tear up Major League Soccer defenses.
With his fifth and sixth goals of the season, the reigning league MVP led Toronto FC (3-2-2) to a 2-0 road victory over rivals Montreal Impact (4-3-0) at Stade Saputo on Saturday afternoon.
Giovinco scored his first from the penalty spot in the 40th minute and added his second in the 81st after a great feed from midfielder Will Johnson.
“He continues to do amazing things,” TFC coach Greg Vanney said. “It was a big performance from him. Obviously Sebastian can come up with things that, in my opinion, nobody has come up with in this league. Tonight he was huge in getting that second goal that really helped to solidify things.”
On his first of the encounter, Giovinco made no mistake from the spot, beating goalkeeper Evan Bush with a powerful and precise shot into the bottom corner of the net. With Montreal pressing for the equalizer in the final 10 minutes, the Italian fired home from just inside the 18-yard box. Bush had no chance.
With at least a goal in three straight games and a league-leading six to start the 2016 MLS campaign (tied with Chris Wondolowski and Fanendo Adi), the 29-year-old, nicknamed the Atomic Ant, is making a strong case to be named to Italy’s Euro 2016 squad.
“That’s a decision for the coach to make, but he’s a guy who’s obviously in form,” said Vanney. “He’s ready if he’s called upon, that’s all we can say. He’s a guy, for sure, if you add him to your team, he can make a difference. We saw that when he was with them in the qualifiers for the Euros and he was spectacular.”
With the win, Toronto climbed into third in the Eastern Conference, one point behind Montreal.
For a team that has yet to play at home — TFC play their first eight games on the road while BMO Field is renovated — Vanney’s men are obviously pleased with their 11 points after seven matches.
“It’s been a very good start for us,” said midfielder Michael Bradley. “Now the commitment from this group is to take care of things one more time in Portland, finish off this first part of the season on a high, and then come back to Toronto really ready to take advantage of some home games.”
