Who will stop Romell Quioto? Who will stop CF Montreal?
Posted at 9:38 p.m.
Certainly not the New England Revolution. At least not this time. Montreal won 4-0 on Saturday night at Stade Saputo. And Quioto, on a real burn for weeks, has been involved in all of his team’s goals. The Honduran registered his 13e and 14e goals of the season, in addition to brilliantly serving Kei Kamara for the first of the evening.
Really, something is happening with this club. This logical victory, resulting from a solid performance, demonstrates how the team reaches its peak at the right time. This seventh consecutive game without defeat consolidates the Bleu-et-noir’s second place in the East standings.
And this, without the services of his best player, Djordje Mihailovic, absent from the line-up on Saturday due to a “potential transfer” – according to CF Montreal – to a European club. According to several media, it would be AZ Alkmaar, in the Dutch first division.
But on the lawn of Saputo Stadium on Saturday night, CF Montreal didn’t seem to need its American spark plug. Kamara and Quioto, helped by Mathieu Choinière, Lassi Lappalainen and Samuel Piette, amply did the work. In front of a full house – another – and absolutely delighted supporters.
PHOTO PETER MCCABE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Andrew Farrell and Romell Quioto
Spectacular
The Revs didn’t start the game so badly though. But Montreal was rapidly gaining momentum. A dominance confirmed by Kei Kamara, at the 26e minute.
He was served by a low cross from Romell Quioto from the left of the box. Then shot to the left of the net. Kamara thus ended up alone in third place in the history of MLS scorers, with 135 successes. It was also his very first at Stade Saputo in a CF Montreal uniform.
But you had to see the second goal of the locals. At the 38e, Choinière launched Lappalainen deep a few meters past the median league. The Finn went on a breakaway. Then put back to the right for Quioto in the area with a small well-calculated pass. The Honduran star hit the mark, and thus scored her 13e of the year. Beautiful.
Passion… and success
Quioto is hungry this season. He skillfully uses his build to make himself difficult to defend. And uses his scoring flair with fervor and precision.
It also helps when he receives masterful passes, like that of Samuel Piette in the 55e. Completely on the right, the Quebecer sent the leather transversely towards Quioto. Who again started running with the ball at his feet, thwarted a defender in the area, then took a shot with his right foot. Before putting his two fingers in his ears as part of his traditional celebration, to the delight of supporters.
You know what also makes fans happy? Passionate reactions from their players. Kamal Miller offered more than one, after solid defensive plays. The Montreal representative at the All-Star Game really did not steal his place.
Matko Miljevic put the icing on the cake of this beautiful evening by scoring on a penalty, in the 90e.
Yes, there are questions about the future of Djordje Mihailovic in the metropolis. But performances like these take this season’s narrative to a whole new level.
Miller was talking about the MLS Cup earlier this week. Montreal is really inviting itself into the group of contenders.
Bernier honored
At halftime, CF Montreal honored its eternal captain Patrice Bernier. The former number 8 was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame last June. Several former players, including President Gabriel Gervais, took their places in the center of the field to welcome him. Bernier was warmly applauded and applauded when he entered the lawn.