A “season-defining” win for CF Montreal

Dear readers, we will do our best to describe the madness of this absolutely crazy derby. Electric. Spectacular.

Jean-Francois Teotonio
The Press

Let’s start by mentioning that CF Montreal won 4-3 against Toronto FC at BMO Field. A great victory, acquired after an irresistible comeback of four unanswered goals.

This Canadian Classic, you guessed it, lived up to expectations. And could even “define the season” of the CFM, according to Alistair Johnston.

“It is historic,” said Wilfried Nancy after the match, speaking of his team’s victory. The head coach, who always maintains a certain neutrality when it comes to commenting on the performance of his club, was dithyrambic on Sunday.

“When I see a 39-year-old player [Kei Kamara, qui en a 38, NDLR] who starts running as he does to help the team. And when I see, excuse me for the term, a little ass like Ismaël Koné who comes in and strips himself for the team. I have a thought for Jason who watches us from above. My little Di Tullio. Because today, he is happy and he smiles. Well done guys. Cheer. »

Toronto pressure

Already, everything was in place for a tense, hot duel. The smoke bombs were lit at the first whistle. On one side, the troop of Wilfried Nancy and its second position in the East. On the other, that of Bob Bradley, Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne, who has almost never lost since the arrival of these Italians.

It was precisely Bernardeschi and Insigne who in turn set the tone at the start of the match. At the 5^e minute, the former Juventus scored on a penalty awarded after a video replay check. More than two minutes after the action deemed faulty by Samuel Piette. Despite the Quebecer’s recriminations, it was 1-0 TFC.

The pressure from Toronto only increased at this time. At the 7^eInsigne brilliantly seized a ball deflected by Piette, him again, and scored 2-0 on the fly in the box.

Montreal, unrecognizable, was unable to play in the first 10 minutes. But this team has evolved a lot since last year. What might have seemed like an insurmountable lead just a few months ago seemed like a simple hill on Sunday, a small knoll to climb. Especially since there were still 80 minutes left to play.

“We believe in us, says Alistair Johnston. […] With what we have built this season, even at 2-0, we did not feel that this match was out of reach. »

“And it was so early in the game,” he adds. We thought it was only two half chances. A dubious penalty and a deflected cross. Let’s play our game, and let’s go. »

Jogo bonito

The CFM went there. After the first 10 infernal minutes, he put his game. Controlled the ball. And quickly found gaps in the TFC lines.

Then the Montreal machine got going. At the 19^e, Kamal Miller went on the attack. The defender managed a suave one-two with his colleague Rudy Camacho. The ball fell at the foot of Kei Kamara, who took a good shot blocked by goalkeeper Alex Bono. Miller, now in the box, grabbed the return. On the fly. Beautiful. the jogo bonito of CF Montreal brought it back to 2-1.

“It was a special moment for me,” rejoiced Miller afterwards, who was playing in front of family and friends in Toronto. It was my first in Toronto, although I often played at BMO Field with the national team. »

The Bleu-et-noir had found its momentum. And brought with him a player who had been looking for him for a long time. Djordje Mihailovic went there with a sublime strike, with the right foot, from outside the area, surrounded by three Torontonians. The power of his shot sent the ball through Alex Bono’s hand. The American tied the game in the 21st^e, with his very first net since May 22. His reaction said it all.

“Djordje’s strike, you don’t see that often,” said Johnston. He did it during the warm-up. We told him to go back and keep it for the game. And that’s exactly what he did. »

The ball evaded the feet of the players of the Queen City. A fact highlighted by the sublime action of Kei Kamara at the 43^e. The veteran was going to dip into the small pocket of defender Chris Mavinga, the two ends alone on the right. And the attacker came out a giant rabbit. He skillfully thwarted the Torontonian before sending the leather between the two legs of Bono, who was playing – again – a very bad match.

“A professional second half”

From 2-0 to 3-2. The gap in the standings between the two teams – Toronto is 10^e – was finally being felt on the pitch.

There was only one team left playing in the second half. And she wasn’t the one who wanted to entertain her followers. This allowed the rhythm to slow down.

“If I try to put myself in their shoes, they would be like, ‘It’s still happening,’ notes Alistair Johnston. And we took advantage of it. We had young and fresh legs. As their pressure died down, spaces were found. »

The gaping holes in the Toronto ramparts allowed Johnston, precisely, to score his 3^e from the season to the 54^e. He was served with a header by Kamara in the area. Barely covered, he hit the mark by tackling the ball with his forehead. It was 4-2, and Montreal now just had to close the books against an emotionally devastated team. And physically too, possibly.

“This fourth goal was very important, underlines the one who scored it. We played a very professional second half. »

Insigne was 4-3 in stoppage time. A goal against the course of play, resulting from an error by Piette and Camacho in the box. The Italian looked hurt, however. He limped in the last few minutes.

This 16^e victory makes the 2022 season already the club’s best in MLS history, with 52 points in total. One more than in 2016. And there are still five games left.

“It’s one of those games that we’re going to remember all year. For a whole career. It defines a season. With all the talent ahead, this game could have easily gone out of reach. But we drew a line in the sand and said, “No. We will come back to this game”. »

“This group writes history, adds Wilfried Nancy. That’s what we want. Do something special. »

He left well.