Atlanta United 1-CF Montreal 2 | “We rediscovered the joy of playing together”

When the book for this 2024 CF Montreal season has been written and completed, the relationship between Josef Martínez and Laurent Courtois should be at the center of the plot.

The Venezuelan played hero on Wednesday night, scoring both of his club’s goals in a 2-1 win at Atlanta United’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The same venue where the star striker made his reputation in MLS, from 2017 to 2022.

“He’s one of the most exciting players I’ve ever seen,” Courtois said at a press briefing. It’s an honor for me to coach him. I told him that a long time ago. »

The speech is still very different from this tedious summer for the CFM, during which the coach and the attacker seemed to reach a point of no return. But since September, Martínez has been playing at the height of his talent. Pushes his team up. Even propelling her to new heights in 2024, showing a will, a “patience” with her teammates and an undeniable talent to just put it in.

With his 2 goals on Wednesday and his 4 nets in 2 games, he is now at 10 this season. Martínez is also unequivocally establishing himself as the most valuable player on this team.

“First of all, we fought for this victory,” said the gunner at a press conference. We tried, we fought, because it’s difficult to come to this stadium, with these fans, this club. »

Martínez did not celebrate his two goals against the team with which he won the MLS Cup in 2018 and the US Open Cup in 2019.

On the other hand, the local supporters made it clear to him that they still held him in their hearts: when he left the field at the 83^ehe received a standing ovation from the scattered crowd.

“I experienced great moments, special moments with this team. I have a lot of love for them. But it’s soccer. I am a professional. I have to fight for my colors. We are happy, but we must stay focused, because we can achieve even more. »

At times this season, the number 17 gestured negatively when his teammates did not offer him the passes he wanted. Perhaps this is where Courtois’ approach ultimately paid off.

“He was very patient with us,” Courtois said. He always helped us find the right way to give him the right services. There is also his big brother side, because he has experience. He can help the youngest in situations that very few have been able to experience. »

“The domino effect”

This victory was said to be historic: it is the very first time in seven occasions that the CFM has won in Georgia, an unprecedented event since 2017. “I learned about it 5 or 10 minutes ago! », Piette will say at a press conference after the meeting.

Meanwhile, his two closest opponents in the playoff race were collapsing. Toronto lost. Philadelphia too. This is almost beyond the wildest hopes of Montrealers, who now occupy eighth place alone in the East.

It is also a very first victory abroad since the 3-2 in Miami on March 10, in 16 matches. “It feels good,” said Courtois, for whom his men seem buoyed by a whole new confidence since these last five matches without defeats. What has changed since September? The question has been asked often recently. But Samuel Piette has offered the best answers so far.

He talks about “small details” which are now better applied. The battles on long balls at the back. Sequences of set plays. The trio up front who “create chances” by “combining and moving together”.

“Previously, we had guys who gave 6, 7 or 8 out of 10, while others gave 2 or 3. Now, everyone is on the same page. […] With teammates wanting to take your position, it pushes everyone to be better. Then, joy returns, success too, and it’s the domino effect. »

They were the most enterprising at the start of the match, in fact. Especially since in front of them, the fangs of a sinking Atlanta United were not very sharp in the first half.

Martínez opened hostilities in the 43^e minute. He took advantage of a game of billiards in the area to receive the ball and put on his 9^e of the season. Altanta’s response only came a few minutes later, in stoppage time, on a header from Daniel Ríos in the area.

The locals woke up in the second, taking care of most of the play. But the entry into play of Tom Pearce, replacing a very weak Raheem Edwards in the attacking third, changed the situation.

One of the Englishman’s first touches of the ball was a saving grace. At the 76^ehe served Martínez with one of his magnificent crosses which make it difficult to explain how Courtois can do without his services in his starting eleven for several matches. Skillfully following the trajectory, the CFM attacker deflected the leather at the mouth.

According to Courtois, Pearce is “coming close” to being a starter. But he still has to “adjust”, especially on the defensive aspect.

“It’s coming slowly,” believes the technician. But offensively he has a special quality with his passing. We know it can hurt at any time. »

On the rise: Jonathan Sirois

Sirois stood out with a very nice parade at 36^e minute, blocking Saba Lobjanidze’s shooting angle. Quietly, the Quebec goalkeeper is regaining his splendor at the end of the season, like the rest of the group. The Atlanta net (45^e + 3) was the first goal allowed by the CFM since the 2-0 in New England, in the 35^e minute, on September 19, or in 283 minutes of play.

Down: Fernando Álvarez

We really liked the young defender Fernando Álvarez this season. Unfortunately, on Wednesday evening, he was not on his X. In particular, it was he who did not make a good mark on Ríos, leading to the equalizer at the end of the first period. The Colombian was also at fault in this regard in the area in the 59th^ewhile Lobjanidze almost gave the locals the lead, instead hitting the crossbar.