CF Montreal thought it had won a great victory, at the last minute. But after taking the lead at the very end of the match, Orlando went for the equalizer. The two teams shared a well-contested 2-2 draw in front of another packed house at Saputo Stadium on Saturday evening.
Mason Toye stood up in the first half, before a quick equalizer for the Lions from the penalty spot. Ariel Lassiter thought about saving the three points with a goal in the 88the minute… before Orlando did it again a few moments later.
After a so-so first half, the CFM will be biting its fingers for having missed this opportunity to leave with the victory after a more convincing second period.
Mason Toye takes his chance
In our notes, we had just written that Mason Toye had been invisible during the first 15 minutes of this match. It was a reflection of CFM’s performance up to that point, who were unable to build their game to even get to the American striker. The Floridians’ pressing was high, intense, and constantly forced the Montrealers to retreat.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Mason Toye thwarts goalkeeper Pedro Gallese
A few seconds later, Toye made us eat our words. His call, just on the offside line, was perfect. Sensing the opportunity, Samuel Piette sent him a nice lob, Toye found himself alone in front of the opposing goalkeeper, uncapped him by playing from deep, and allowed himself a solid finish into the top corner from a difficult angle . Against the run of play, it was 1-0 Montreal in the 16the minute.
He played big, Toye, in this meeting. Josef Martínez, Matías Cóccaro, Kwadwo Opoku and Jules-Anthony Vilsaint are all in the infirmary. The fifth gunner on the board got a golden opportunity to show off, and he took it. It was only his sixth goal since 2022, he who has had all the trouble in the world finding form and consistency since a major injury in the summer of 2021.
His fine effort was thwarted moments later, as Orlando took advantage of a controversial mistake by Jonathan Sirois in his area to score from the penalty spot. Sirois, who also received a yellow card for the game, had he not touched the ball first, before mowing down Luis Muriel? Regardless, Facundo Torres made it 1-1 in the 22nde minute.
The rest of the exchanges in the first half were divided, even if Orlando had a little more fun with the ball.
The second half was the affair of the locals. Much more decisive in creating play and in its passing sequences, CF Montreal, on the other hand, had difficulty crossing the Orlando penalty area.
Until Sunusi Ibrahim, who replaced Mason Toye, gave himself a good shot in the 88the. Lassiter, who was hanging around, grabbed the return to score his second in two games in Montreal.
PHOTO DAVID KIROUAC, USA TODAY SPORTS
Ariel Lassiter believed he had given his team the victory by scoring in the 88the minute.
The Lions only needed four minutes to roar again. At the 92eIván Angulo materialized Martin Ojeda’s beautiful cross to spoil the evening for Montrealers.
Orlando pushed until the very end, securing no less than four consecutive corners in stoppage time.
More details will follow.