Substitute Tosaint Ricketts scored in the 87th minute to lift Toronto FC to a 2-2 draw with the Montreal Impact on a wet Sunday afternoon at Saputo Stadium.
Only moments after Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush made a diving save on Toronto star Sebastian Giovinco, the diminutive Italian lofted a cross inside the penalty area when Jozy Altidore chested it down and Ricketts pounded in his first goal of the season.
Altidore also scored for Toronto (13-9-11), which remained winless in five games (0-1-4). Ignacio Piatti scored twice for the Impact (11-11-11), who clinched a playoff spot and ran their unbeaten run to three games.
Montreal will have a chance to ensure home field in the single-game knockout round of playoffs when it ends the regular season next Sunday at New England. TFC ends its season next Sunday at Chicago.
With playoff positions at stake, the Canadian rivals produced a high tempo match with glittering chances at both ends.
Eyebrows were raised before the match had even started when star striker Didier Drogba was left out of the Impact lineup.
A club statement said he had a sore back, but there were reports of a falling out with the team, perhaps over newcomer Matteo Mancuso getting the start at forward for a third straight game.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Giovinco was in the Toronto starting 11 as he returned from an injury and was a menace to the Montreal defence the entire match.
Piatti took a pass on the left flank from Marco Donadel, moved in and blasted it inside the far post in the 19th minute for the lone first-half goal.
Giovinco drew two free kicks close to the Montreal penalty area but saw one go off the crossbar and the other go off the wall and wide.
Just before Piatti scored, Armando Cooper dribbled past Victor Cabrera inside the Montreal area but saw his oft shot go off the right post.
Toronto tied it in the 52nd when Justin Morrow sent a perfect cross in on a run down the left side.
Altidore was battling with two Montreal defenders and got a foot free to lift the ball past a fallen Bush for his 10th if the campaign.
Referee Jair Marrufo pointed to the penalty spot when Mancuso went down after contact from behind by Morrow in the 55th and Piatti made no mistake for his second of the game and 17th of the season.