CF Montreal can only blame itself if it escaped victory and the points that came with it, Wednesday evening, at the Saputo stadium.
In the absence of several of its best players, the CFM led 2-0 after 60 minutes of play. Then the New York Red Bulls suddenly became more insistent, more offensive. The Montrealers “failed”, says head coach Laurent Courtois. Result: 2-2 draw in front of a packed – and probably sweaty – house.
I really thought we were going to take cover for the second half. I thought we were mature enough now to say: we promised ourselves not to concede like this, and we’re going to stay smart. But we didn’t know. So there is a lot of disappointment.
Laurent Courtois, head coach of CF Montreal
In fact, this is not a catastrophic result for the Montrealers, who were dealing with the absences of Ariel Lassiter, Samuel Piette, Mathieu Choinière and Joel Waterman, all of whom left for the Copa América. They also managed to continue their unbeaten streak, which increased to five.
PHOTO ERIC BOLTE, USA TODAY SPORTS
An altercation broke out after the meeting between Cory Burke (7) and Bryce Duke (10).
The problem is that this sequence includes four draws, including three in the metropolis; It’s starting to add up to a lot of points that we let slip away at home…
“It’s hard, especially when you have a match almost in your pocket. We take it as a defeat,” said Nathan Saliba, who wore the captain’s armband replacing Piette.
“It was a very tough match, very tough conditions. Lots of humidity. We knew it would not be an easy match, we had to cover a lot of space, a lot of passing lines. »
“We need to be stronger”
In the first half, the CFM increased the number of missed passes, struggling to create any attack, but they still had the upper hand over the visitors. And unlike last Saturday, the finish was there.
At the 11e minute, Ruan took advantage of a free kick just outside the penalty area. Gabriele Corbo stuck his head out, followed by Joaquín Sosa; the ball hit an opposing player, before Sunusi Ibrahim finally managed to head it with a final header. A tic-tac-toe of heads from the Bleu-blanc-noir!
It’s a 6e goal this season for the surprising Nigerian, who also superbly saved a sure goal later in the match.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Kwadwo Opoku
The Blues had attempted long passes several times at the start of the match, without success. At the 40e, the scenario finally came to fruition. Raheem Edwards, fresh from injury, played a long pass to Kwadwo Opoku, who was racing at full speed into the box. He skillfully beat John Tolkin before unleashing a perfect shot. Let’s say that a little expertise on the surface doesn’t hurt…
It was in the second half that the match took a completely different turn. Laurent Courtois summed it up well: “Technically, [nous avions] a little less control. Without the ball, we were in a little more difficulty. There were a lot of negatives in the second half. »
At 61e minute, New York striker Elias Manoel accepted a perfect pass in the area. Jonathan Sirois made the first stop, but Wikelman Carmona was there to take the return.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Jonathan Sirois blocks a shot from Elias Manoel (11) during the second half.
“I really thought that the second half and the scenario would allow us to set the table for a third and a fourth goal, I did not expect that we would give the opponent the opportunity to believe so early in his chances,” said Courtois.
The Red Bulls actually believed in their chances, since they were very real. 16-year-old Julian Hall made it 2-2 with a header from a corner kick in the 88the minute.
“I think we need to be more solid at the end of the match,” said Nathan Saliba. It’s a moment when the visiting team pushes to get a result, and that’s when we have to be stronger. »
A questionable decision
PHOTO ERIC BOLTE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Wikelman Carmona (19) and Matías Cóccaro (9)
Matías Cóccaro could have given Montreal its third goal and single-handedly changed the outcome of the match.
At the 80e minute, while CF Montreal was leading 2-1, the attacker made a breakaway. Once he entered the penalty area, while being closely followed by an opponent, he dropped to the ground rather than kicking the ball.
The game was perfect, however, and everything indicated that the Uruguayan was going to score. Officials have not reported anything about the footage. When asked about this, Courtois was careful in his words.
“I’m not sure there was really contact,” he analyzed. It’s really difficult to be in these kinds of situations. I hate to say this, but there’s a famous coach who says, “I try to get my players into these kinds of situations, then it’s their job.”
“You have to make a decision in a second, at full speed, and it’s not easy. […] I thought he would take the throw, but it’s easy to say that now. »
With all of this, CF Montreal must now turn to its next match, which will take place on Saturday in Colorado. According to Saliba, Wednesday’s result is already serving as motivation for the Montreal troops.
“I know it, I feel it, I saw it in the faces of the whole team. »