CF Montreal thought about making a big move in Chicago, another one at the start of the season. Then everything fell apart.
The CFM led 3-1 until the 84e minute. He ultimately lost 4-3, conceding two goals late in stoppage time.
What happened ?
Let’s try to retrace the course of events at this crazy end of the match.
It all started with an elbow from Raheem Edwards towards Georgios Koutsias in the area. This error earned him a red card, and prompted the official to award a penalty in favor of the Fire. Brian Gutierrez made it 3-2, leading to a wild end to the match.
PHOTO MIKE DINOVO, USA TODAY SPORTS
Brian Gutierrez takes a penalty after a red card awarded to Raheem Edwards.
Defending 10 against 11, Montreal conceded the equalizing goal in the 95the, on the first in MLS of Belgian Hugo Cuypers. Until then, we remain within the realm of the conceivable.
But it was Chicago’s fourth goal that was completely out of the ordinary. Midfielder Kellyn Acosta, from his own defensive zone, sent a ball using the song A little higher, a little further to inspire its trajectory. The Windy City took care of the rest: Jonathan Sirois, too advanced, was completely foiled, as much by the shooting as by the gusts.
4-3, Chicago. Montrealers’ perfect shot turned into a first return to reality this season.
Zorro wins
And yet, for a long time, the story of this meeting had been written neither by the wind nor by the Fire: it was that of Matías Cóccaro. It only took Montreal Zorro 15 minutes before he put his signature on this match.
Cóccaro forced his opponents to make a mistake early in the first half, which resulted in two penalties in quick succession. Shots that he made himself in the 8the and the 12e minute. Just like that, Montreal was leading 2-0.
PHOTO MATT MARTON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Matías Cóccaro scored twice from the penalty spot.
By playing his pest role to perfection, the Uruguayan even allowed himself a yellow card in the 15the minute. The Fire players did not know how to contain the one who was boiling in Cóccaro at the start of the match.
The appearance of the match then recalled that of previous meetings for the CFM: after an intense start, the visitors let the locals play the game. This resulted in more than 60% possession for Chicago in the first half. The Fire took very little advantage at this time, coming up against a solid defensive block from Montreal.
Until Maren Haile-Selassie came into the area, receiving a long and beautiful lobbed pass from Rafael Czichos from the central circle, and beat Jonathan Sirois for the 2-1 net, late in stoppage time .
The second half initially looked the same. The Fire even started to get closer and closer to Jonathan Sirois’ cage. Laurent Courtois then made changes that seemed saving: he replaced Bryce Duke, who had another difficult outing, with Dominic Iankov, and Ruan for Raheem Edwards.
Five minutes later, at the 70eIankov handed the ball to Martínez on a short pass in the area, who passed it back nicely to him with a backheel, which allowed the number 8 to score his first goal in MLS.