We perhaps believed in new hope at the end of the match. But the empire finally counterattacked in the face of less tenacious rebels.
CF Montreal lost 4-1 to Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday evening, as part of the Star Wars evening at GEODIS Park. The extinguished stars of the CFM were completely eclipsed by those revived by the locals in this meeting.
“It’s a good lesson for us and for me,” conceded Laurent Courtois after the match. […] At the time, it was really poor. Like many things for us. We can either be brilliant or mediocre, collectively and individually. It’s not consistent enough. We cannot have so many gaps in our individual and collective services. »
PHOTO CASEY GOWER, USA TODAY SPORTS
Walker Zimmerman (25) scored in the 21e minute.
Montreal was dominated in one-on-one battles, with Nashville always more fired up and more successful, jumping on opportunities on the counterattack. In this sense, the first half was catastrophic for Courtois’ men. It was 2-0 at the break, a somewhat surprising scenario, given Nashville’s form this season: it hosted Montreal after having not tasted victory in its last five games.
“We were a little hesitant,” he explained. It’s clear that if we decide to play this way, if we hesitate or if we are approximate, it will be complicated against a team in transition. »
No response to the dry cleaner
Asphyxiated, mired in its zone, the CFM may have had majority possession of the ball, but it was sterile. And Nashville took the opportunity to win every battle. Designated player Sam Surridge opened the scoring in the 11the minute on a good shot in the area. At the 21e minute, Walker Zimmerman threaded the needle from the header to the goal to make it 2-0 on a perfect shot from the excellent Hany Mukhtar taken from the corner.
Obviously, Laurent Courtois’ CF Montreal is struggling against teams with intense pressing. This was the case against DC United a few weeks ago, it was Saturday night in Nashville.
Upon returning from the locker room, Leia would not even have had time to register her request to Obi-Wan Kenobi that hope would be dead. The Tennessee team made it 3-0 in the 47the. A strike from Surridge, again.
For Raheem Edwards, who was one of the most successful Montrealers, this is where the problem lies. Because like during the 5-0 thaw in Seattle, Montreal conceded “naively” while a slight optimism lived within it.
PHOTO CASEY GOWER, USA TODAY SPORTS
Hany Mukhtar (10) and Samuel Piette (6) compete for the ball.
“The main concern, for me, is finding a way to stop the bleeding,” said the Canadian full-back. At 2-0, it was important for us to go for the next goal, and we conceded just one minute into the second half. »
A porous defense
With nothing left to lose, Courtois made no less than four substitutions on the same change just before the hour mark: Rida Zouhir, Sunusi Ibrahim, Gabriele Corbo and Mason Toye took their places. Despite a skeletal squad in the absence of eight injured players, including three attackers, it briefly had the desired effect.
A good low cross from Ruan, on the right, found the foot… of Walker Zimmerman, in his own area. The veteran defender redirected the ball into his own net, it was 3-1 in the 65the minute.
This upheaval in Montreal did not last long. Nashville let the visitors play the game, but Montreal did not have the weapons to compete, especially in the final third.
PHOTO GEORGE WALKER IV, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Taylor Washington tries to outrun George Campbell.
Sam Surridge completed his hat trick in the 82nde, putting on the final 4-1. We are talking here about the worst attack in MLS, before this meeting. This offering made CF Montreal the worst defense on the Garber circuit, with 20 goals conceded.
The head coach has taken his players’ defense, and more importantly the blame, during previous difficult moments this season. On Saturday, he shared it somewhat with his flock.
“It’s not possible for us to concede so much just because we’re not having a good day,” he said.
Mentally, collectively, I am primarily responsible. We still have work to do not to approach the match in a naive way. I think we have a lot of clarity on what we can do positively, and what we have difficulties with.
Laurent Courtois
Through this tough defeat, it should be noted that Mathieu Choinière was the fairest player among his team. The Quebecer, who requested to be traded from the CFM due to stalled contract negotiations, completed 95% of his 79 passes, in addition to winning half of his eight duels.
“He was on the same momentum as his previous matches,” Courtois said of him. It also has a versatility that is really interesting. He performed at his level, as he promised he would. »
RISING
Raheem Edwards
PHOTO STEVE ROBERTS, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
Raheem Edwards (44)
The Canadian was one of the most electric players for Montreal in this match. He is the one who is well positioned to lead Zimmerman into an own goal error. During a meeting where all Nashville players dominated the duels, it was Edwards who stood out with 13 successes out of 23 in this regard, the highest total of the two teams. From match to match, he confirms his rise in the style of play deployed by Laurent Courtois.
FALLING
George Campbell
Many were at fault during this disappointment, obviously. But Campbell was called upon for his part, and did not manage to break the frantic rhythm of the representatives of the country city. He was dominated in his one-on-one battles, taming 9 out of 12 times.