CF Montreal 2 – Orlando City SC 2 | Toye gets up, but Montreal escapes victory

“We thought we had done the hardest part,” commented Laurent Courtois, after the 2-2 draw on Saturday evening at the Saputo stadium.

This is because Ariel Lassiter thought about bringing back all three points by scoring the 2-1 goal in the 88th^e minute. A successful net after another hard-fought match against Orlando. But a quick moment of hesitation ruined the perfect evening for the packed house in Montreal.

“It’s certain that the feeling we have at the moment is a bit of disappointment,” confirmed Samuel Piette afterwards. You experience such a strong emotion when you score this goal, and afterwards, you think you have this match in your pocket. »

“It’s a shame, because once again, there was some good stuff in the content. »

Montreal especially offered a good copy in the second half, repeating the interesting patterns of play from its performance against Cincinnati last weekend. But the first period was so-so.

Mason Toye takes his chance

So, we understand Piette’s feeling, given the pace of the match. But the truth is that with such a massacre in attack, we have to admit that CF Montreal got away with this point.

Josef Martínez was injured in training. Matías Cóccaro will be out for at least another seven weeks. Jules-Anthony Vilsaint and Kwadwo Opoku are nearing a return, but once again watched this match from the stands.

In their absence, it was Mason Toye, fifth gunner in the hierarchy, who obtained the starting position at the forefront. We didn’t expect much from this striker who had been out of fuel for almost three years in Montreal.

And his start to the match wasn’t very conclusive either. In our notes, we had just written that Toye was invisible for 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.

But 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, took down his pants 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 16th^e minute.

“Sam knows that I often do that in training,” Toye said after the match. We made eye contact, I turned around, and he was able to send the ball in at the right time. »

“Mason outwitted his opponent very well,” praised Piette. I said to myself, “I hope he scores on the play!” And finally I see that it overflows, on the outside, at a super difficult angle. »

The American confirms.

“I worked really hard to find the team,” he explained, relieved. My start to the season was difficult. It’s a shame that it was the injuries that gave me my chance, but that’s how it is. […] The coaches believed in me, I’m grateful to have had this chance. »

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 22nd^e minute.

“I try not to get into that,” Courtois said, smiling when asked about the decision to award the penalty. I don’t want to go into things that no one wants to see, including my children. »

Her two boys were seated among members of the media in the conference room at the time.

“You made me hot,” he jokes, looking at the colleague who asked him the question about refereeing.

Lassiter, the strong man of the CFM

The second half was the affair of the locals, much more decisive in the creation of play and in their passing sequences.

“The coach told us: ‘Add a little madness. Even if you are super far away, put a cross,” Piette said of the adjustments for the second period.

The CFM still had difficulty reaching the opposing penalty area…

Until Sunusi Ibrahim, who replaced Mason Toye, gave himself a good shot in the 88th^e. Lassiter, who was hanging around, grabbed the rebound to score his second goal in two games in Montreal.

Lassiter is increasingly becoming a crucial cog in Courtois’ training. Used as a left-back at the start of the campaign, he returned to his winger position last week. On Saturday, in the absence of the attackers, the Costa Rican international even found himself up front alongside Toye. A versatility that his trainer appreciates.

“It’s certain that his DNA is more attacking,” confirms Courtois, who worked with him in Los Angeles when he was starting out as a technician. That’s how I knew him during the Galaxy days. This is a continuation of what he has done since the start of the season. He works hard, and he is always open to modifications, adjustments. He’s in a good moment, and I’m glad he’s capitalizing. »

The Lions only needed four minutes to roar again. At the 92^e, Iván Angulo materialized Martin Ojeda’s beautiful cross to spoil the evening for Montrealers. It could have even been worse: Orlando pushed until the very end, earning no less than five consecutive corners just before the final whistle.

“We concede too quickly after having done the hardest part,” submits the Frenchman. But as long as guys go out on the field with those intentions in the second half, […] I won’t have much to reproach them for. »

RISING

Raheem Edwards

The CFM attack went through him on the left flank. Lively and active, he even allowed Lassiter to move further forward and support Mason Toye up front. Courtois praised his qualities on Friday, even considering him a Canadian international. With the confidence of his coach, Edwards has all the assets to succeed. As long as he avoids red cards.

FALLING

Joel Waterman

The Canadian defender served a dangerous pass to Joaquín Sosa in the 10th^e minute, and the game ended with a yellow card given to the Uruguayan. His second half was also difficult: he notably received his own card by putting his hand in the face of Duncan McGuire. He will need to exorcise this aspect of his game if he truly wants to establish himself as a CFM general.