Fifteen minutes after a victory allowing CF Montreal to reach the final of the Canadian Championship, the press briefing begins. Nothing to report, it’s a ritual meeting at the Saputo stadium during this Wednesday evening.
After chatting with Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis and winger David Choinière, Mathieu’s caddie, Hernán Losada took the podium with a smile on his face.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
CF Montreal head coach Hernán Losada (right)
He is right. His club won 2-0 against the Ontario team, despite an uninspired first half and the fact that a rather lucky goal allowed them to take the lead in this semi-final. It was a game without real history, but which allowed the team to participate in its first final of the Canadian tournament since November 2021.
Losada explained that the addition of a striker was a game-changer in the second half, then he asked the full-backs to shoot more. He added that he appreciated the chemistry between forwards Sunusi Ibrahim, still a scorer in the Canadian Championship, and Chinonso Offor. After four minutes and three questions, the press briefing is over.
What ?
Depending on the results and questions, Losada press briefings last an average of 8 to 12 minutes. However, the pilot of the Montrealers wants more. “We don’t qualify for a final every week! “, he exclaimed, visibly disappointed not to be able to talk more about this meeting.
He initially thinks that the members of the media have no more questions for him, but he is told that he must give up his place, because time is running out. So he gets up, walks off the podium, and as he picks up his backpack, Losada says he’s surprised that 98.5 FM reporter Jeremy Filosa doesn’t have any questions for him.
The latter replies that he would have liked to ask a question, but that he did not have time. So Losada returns to the podium and takes a few more questions.
The Argentinian is happy with this qualification and certainly does not want to reduce this result to a simple anecdote.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Chinonso Offor (9), of CF Montreal, makes a head play.
“At the start of the season, one of the first things I looked at was the schedule,” he noted. When I saw the cup, I said to myself that for me and the club, it was very important.
“We have always put on a competitive eleven and we have respected all the teams we have faced, even the one from the first phase. [Vaughan Azzurri, un club semi-professionnel ontarien], because we know that in the Cup there are always surprises. »
A speech consistent with that which he held during the last days. On Tuesday, he said that this match would be the most important of the CFM season. “More than those of MLS”, he even specified.
So take it for granted. The Canadian Championship final, which will take place in British Columbia at the home of the winner of the other semi-final between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Pacific FC, will therefore be the most important new game of the season. The other semi-final will be played later on Wednesday while the final will be held between June 6-8.
We are very happy and very proud to be here, in the final.
Hernán Losada, head coach of CF Montreal
The idea of a cup, a trophy that this final dangles probably excites Losada more than anyone. Although the place in the Champions League that comes with the title adds to the importance of the duel.
In short, Losada is happy and he wants to talk about it.
A lackluster Choinière derby
Parents, even the entire Choinière family, and friends were in a box above the bays of the Saputo stadium. For the third year in a row, brothers Mathieu and David Choinière crossed swords in the Canadian Championship.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Mathieu and David Choinière
“I’m sick of losing to my brother,” said the youngest after the match. The CFM won all three clashes between the two clubs, but the Forge came close to causing an upset.
His head coach himself admitted that the visitors had control over the duel in the first half and that everything had gone wonderfully until Ariel Lassiter’s goal, which occurred in the 54the minute.
This deflected shot from outside the box proved to be the providential helping hand, after a lackluster performance from the Montrealers so far. Le Forge then having to equalize, he opened the game, which allowed CFM to create multiple chances.
Sunusi Ibrahim then scored the insurance goal in the 78the minute. Quebec striker Jules-Anthony Vilsaint also got his first minutes for the club, making his debut in the 84e minute.
Up: Joel Waterman
PHOTO JEFF DEAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Joel Waterman
The center hinge had a good night’s work, but honorable mention to Joel Waterman who was dominant after a performance to forget against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. As we say in sports jargon, he rebounded.
Down: Matko Miljevic
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Matko Miljevic (8)
Performance not inspired by number 8 of CF Montreal. The Argentinian struggled to cut through the Forge’s opaque block and spent a lot of time on the ground compared to his number of fouls won.
The number of the match: 54
Number of minutes before a first shot on target in the game