It was all there, Saturday night at Stade Saputo. Full bleachers. A most festive atmosphere. A superb performance by CF Montreal against a completely overwhelmed rival from Toronto FC. And, in the end, a well-deserved 1-0 victory.
Updated yesterday at 9:49 p.m.
The Blue and Black played one of its most successful matches this year. It’s even really surprising that he didn’t find the bottom of the strings before the 68e.
“Today, we can win with a lot of humility, nuanced head coach Wilfried Nancy after the game. We can score more goals, but that’s our story. »
Il marque ensuite une petite pause. Puis pèse ses mots.
C’est quand même solide, ce qu’ils ont fait. On sortait de deux défaites. […] Today there was rivalry. The guys wanted to do well.
Wilfried Nancy
It was believed that Romell Quioto had freed his team by scoring with a header, on a superb lobbed pass from Alistair Johnston at the edge of the surface. But it was Toronto defender Lukas MacNaughton who headed the ball back to the far post. Ironically pretty.
“Maybe they should review the sequence,” Quioto said in the press scrum, smirking. […] It was I who deflected the ball into the net. For me, that’s my goal. »
Johnston, until then in central defense, was used as a right-back for the second half, and it paid off. He multiplied the beautiful climbs and the dangerous crosses. With the entry into play of Djordje Mihailovic, back from an injury that had been bothering him since the end of May, and that of Mason Toye, an already one-sided match was even more so.
“I was happy for Djordje, commented Nancy. It’s been a long time, and it’s been difficult for him. »
“We would like it to be like this every game”
The show delighted the crowd of 19,619 fans, which made this evening the first full house for CF Montreal since… July 13, 2019.
PHOTO ERIC BOLTE, USA TODAY SPORTS
There were many spectators at the Saputo stadium on Saturday evening.
Loud throughout, the crowd gave standing ovations, especially to Mihailovic as he entered the pitch. In Quioto when he left her. She stamped with excitement during the many Montreal climbs in the Toronto area. It was necessary to respond to the hundred Toronto admirers who had made the trip to Montreal.
“It stank of football today, illustrated Nancy. We do this job for that. You’ll think I’m crazy, but it’s more than winning or losing. I do it because I want to provide emotions. I want to share the moment. The consequence, if we play well, is that we will win. »
Defenseman Rudy Camacho went one step further.
We would like it to be like this every game. When we see that there are only 13,000 people, we’re not going to lie to you, we’re disappointed. Sometimes, outside, we have more chills than at home.
Rudy Camacho
“It takes a little extra to win each game, he continues. We are going to need our supporters to have a great season. »
Camacho had one more reason to celebrate Saturday night: it was only CFM’s second shutout this season. And the first at home. With James Pantemis in goal replacing Sebastian Breza, moreover.
“It feels good, especially against Toronto at home, judges the Frenchman. […] We dominated our match, we mastered our subject. Today, we managed to keep the score, it was important. »
Pantemis hasn’t been very busy. But its stop at the 90e minute, as CFM played 10-11 after Kamal Miller was sent off in the 81ste, will certainly earn him a few accolades… and maybe even officially Breza’s position as number one. Nancy didn’t want to go on about it.
“He was good like everyone else, like all the players, explains the coach. He had a few saves to make, he made them. Good for him and for us. »
On the other side, the CFM came up against an Alex Bono in great shape. He was strafed by 19 Montreal shots, although only 5 were on target. Montreal dominated possession at almost 64%.
Only the halftime ceremony put a brake on the Montreal high-speed train. The induction of Mauro Biello into the club’s Wall of Fame was celebrated there. The Montreal legend walked the lawn with Nevio Pizzolitto and Gabriel Gervais, the first two immortalized players, as well as owner Joey Saputo. His two children also accompanied him. The crowd gave him a heartfelt standing ovation.