After Saturday’s heartbreaking draw in Toronto, CF Montreal players are no doubt a little concerned about their unfavorable position in the MLS Eastern Conference standings. But Wednesday night, they will have to focus their thoughts in another direction, otherwise they could experience another disappointment, without a second chance to get up.
A little over a month after a 3-1 victory over the HFX Wanderers in Halifax, CF Montreal is back in the game for the Canadian Championship.
This time, we are in the semi-final stage against Forge FC, a team from the Canadian Premier League (CPL) based in Hamilton, which will face the Montreal team in front of their fans.
Even if he is American and it is possible that he will be left out, given the busy schedule that CF Montreal must respect, Djordje Mihailovic knows very well what this meeting represents.
“It’s a chance to win a trophy. If we win this match, we are in the final [du Championnat canadien] Said Mihailovic, who did not wear the uniform during the game in Halifax in September.
“There are two competitions: there is the MLS and the Canadian Championship. Some might say that we should focus on one more than the other. Ultimately, it’s a competition, it’s a championship. It’s a chance to win and play in the CONCACAF Champions League. The stakes in this match are high and we cannot take it lightly. We have to concentrate 100%, ”added Mihailovic.
High ambitions
Another who doesn’t mind the temporary change of course is head coach Wilfried Nancy, for whom Saturday’s draw in Toronto should no longer be on the minds of his players. “The calendar is made like that. We had the opportunity to play the match on another date. We are fine. Saturday’s game is over. We saw with the team what we could do better to have this victory, ”Nancy first clarified by videoconference on Monday afternoon.
“Now, he continued, new story against Forge, which is a good team. Yes, in CPL, but a good team. “
This match generates a certain intrigue because Forge FC (13-8-2) occupies the third rung of the CPL standings with 41 points. That’s three less than Cavalry FC and one less than Pacific FC, who however played two more games.
The stakes in this match are high and we cannot take it lightly
Hamilton’s side also have the best gap (+11) between the number of goals scored and goals conceded, tied with Pacific FC, a team that eliminated the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first round and who hope to reserve the same fate. at Toronto FC next week.
Finally, thanks to the work of goaltender Triston Henry, the Forge conceded just 19 goals, the lowest total in the league. With his eight shutouts, Henry shares first place in the league with Quebecer Jonathan Sirois, who belongs to the CF Montreal organization.
“We expect them to play a very strong game. They’re in a good streak right now. They beat a lot of teams in CONCACAF and in their league, ”said defender Kamal Miller, who knows a number of players on the team.
“They will be ready, we know they will be in good shape and the game will mean a lot to them. We will have to play hard, take the game very seriously, go for the victory and continue our journey. “
Famous faces
Le Forge also has several players who have played with the Montreal Impact, including Max Tissot, Omar Browne and David Choinière, Mathieu’s brother, one of CF Montreal’s revelations this season.
Wilfried Nancy also laughed heartily when a journalist asked him, Monday, if he had cut all communication between the two brothers, at least until Wednesday, and if he found that Mathieu was more feverish. than usual.
“No, I don’t feel him more feverish. Having known them very early on, I can say that these two brothers have always been very competitive with each other. They were playing at home, they have a house, I don’t know if they still have it, in the countryside, and they were already playing competitive games. And it wasn’t kidding. They tackle each other. They’ve always been like that. It’s good. That’s a beautiful story. “