A win, a shutout. CF Montreal could hardly have asked for better for its match against Atlanta United, a direct rival in the playoff picture, Saturday night at Saputo Stadium.
A solid defensive performance and a brilliant Ruan allowed the CFM to win 1-0 at the end of a hot Montreal evening.
The Brazilian right-back, still as lively in his flank, scored the only goal of the match in the 51st minute.e. A rare header from him, from a nice cross from Raheem Edwards, his counterpart on the left.
It was also Ruan who forced Atlanta defender Stian Gregersen into committing the offence that earned him his second yellow card of the match, and thus his expulsion, in the 54th minute.e.
PHOTO DAVID KIROUAC, USA TODAY SPORTS
Right-back Ruan had a strong performance, scoring the only goal of the match.
CF Montreal played 11 against 10 for the last 35 minutes. And they had chances. We wouldn’t have called it such a close game if it hadn’t been for Brad Guzan’s brilliance in front of the visitors’ net. The American notably frustrated Josef Martínez, then Ruan in the 75thebefore playing the same trick on Jules-Anthony Vilsaint five minutes later. Then, again in the 88eon a nice strike from Mason Toye.
On the other side, Atlanta wanted to, and almost did, make Montreal pay for its lack of success in the box. But the three-man defense composed of Joaquín Sosa, George Campbell and Fernando Álvarez, paired with a masterful Jonathan Sirois, held up. It folded at the end of the game, without cracking.
The first half was quiet on both sides. Montreal found its rhythm at the end of it. But its chances, even the most obvious, did little to worry the visitors.
With these three important points, Montreal (26 points) passes Atlanta in 10e position. Next Saturday’s match against Toronto FC (8e27 pts), promises to be colorful.