Loss to TFC forces Impact into wait and see approach for playoff berth Toronto FC played spoiler Saturday, hanging on to defeat Montreal 1-0 and force the Impact to wait and watch games Sunday to see if it makes the MLS playoffs. Montreal (14-13-7, 49 points) will be out if Houston beats D.C. United, New England defeats Columbus and Chicago beats or ties New York. Robert Earnshaw scored his eighth goal of the season in the 16th minute for Toronto (6-17-11), which could have led by three after the first half of the regular season finale for both clubs. It was a "win and you're in" game for Montreal but there was little sense of urgency from the visitors despite the cheers of a phalanx of Impact supporters squeezed in the corner of the east stand. After a sluggish start by both teams, Toronto - which came into the game trailing Montreal by 23 points - began to take control. Toronto, which is missing the playoffs for a seventh straight year, looked dominant. At times Toronto players were queuing up to take a shot. Montreal did not manage a shot on target in a first half during which the BMO Field pitch seemed tilted towards the Impact goal. Montreal made changes in the second half and began to finally test the Toronto defence. A 62nd-minute goal by Marco Di Vaio was called off due to apparent handball. Andrew Wenger shot wide from in front of the net in the 72nd minute. And Toronto goalie Joe Bendik then robbed Andres Romero in the 88th minute. The Impact only have themselves to blame for their post-season drive coming down to the final day. Prior to last weekend's 2-1 win over visiting Philadelphia, Montreal went winless in six league games during which it collected one point out of a possible 18. With just Toronto, D.C. United and the Columbus Crew eliminated from playoff contention and New York and Sporting Kansas City already in, it made for a complicated final weekend in the East with Montreal, Chicago, New England, Houston and Philadelphia vying for the final three playoff berths. Philadelphia was ousted after losing 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City earlier in the day. The Union had needed a win and help from other teams. Chicago (49 points), Houston (48) and New England (48) all get their chance Sunday. The Impact went into the weekend in the best position, tied with Chicago on points but well ahead in the next tiebreaker (goals for). A tuque giveaway was doubtless appreciated by the fans on a chilly overcast, seven-degree afternoon at the Toronto lakefront. The sun eventually came out but it was still a raw day for the announced crowd of 13,211. Toronto's first goal had a hint of luck about it but was nevertheless deserved as the home side began to launch attacks with rookie Canadian midfielders Jonathan Osorio and Kyle Bekker pulling the strings. Toronto striker Bright Dike's physical presence also disrupted the Montreal defence. The bull-like forward set the table for the Earnshaw goal. After Dike tormented a pair of Montreal defenders, the ball squibbed free to Osorio whose right-footed shot was redirected in by Earnshaw, catching goalie Troy Perkins going the wrong way. Earnshaw had a fine chance in the 33rd when he and Dike broke in side-by-side down the middle during a defensive breakdown. Perkins saved the day, making a fine point-blank save. The Impact goalie was forced to make a fingertip save off Osorio seconds later as Montreal's defence - missing the injured Alessandro Nesta - continued to crumble. Bekker hit the crossbar in the 38th minute from outside the penalty box. Perkins then had to tip an Earnshaw shot over the bar in the 43rd minute. Toronto came close early in the second half with a header from skipper Steven Caldwell deflecting off the bar, Bendik finally was called upon in the 53rd minute, stopping Davey Arnaud at point-blank range. Substitute Andrea Pisanu headed just wide in the 65th minute. It was almost 2-0 Toronto in the 82nd minute after a Montreal defender made a goal-line clearance off Caldwell following a corner. There was little on the line for Toronto other than pride - and the chance to pick up a sixth win, one more than last season when the team went 5-21-8. Toronto was coming off a 1-0 loss in Chicago, a defeat that stretched its league road scoring drought to six hours 45 minutes. Toronto has failed to make the playoffs since entering the league in 2007. While it has been another long season for TFC supporters, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Rookie manager Ryan Nelsen will be less constrained by the salary cap next season and the team says it is willing to spend big on marquee strikers in the January transfer window. The club can also point to a corps of talented youngsters. Saturday's starting 11 featured seven players 25 or younger. A black cat ran across the north goal prior to the game. Perhaps coincidentally that goal needed some repair work prior to kickoff, resulting in a kickoff delay of about five minutes. NOTES - Goalie Stefan Frei, one of several-high profile Toronto players expected to leave after this season, was on the bench Saturday. Fullback Richard Eckersley and injured striker Danny Koevermans, both also heading out the door, did not make the matchday 18 ... Canadian national team coach Benito Floro took in the match .... Montreal came into Saturday's game with an 0-4-3 record in all competitions at BMO Field.