We thought he was exhausted, at the end of his resources, almost disinterested. But CF Montreal finally found its colors again with a 3-2 victory against Atlético San Luis, in the Leagues Cup, Tuesday evening.
A decisive win in this competition, which now gives him hope of moving on to the next round.
“Today, they delivered,” commented Laurent Courtois after the match. […] We didn’t change anything. We talked about the same things. We made zero adjustments.”
Except perhaps the starting position of the hero of the evening.
A certain Tom Pearce.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
CF Montreal’s Tom Pearce (center) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Atlético San Luis.
Tom who?
Tom Pearce, the left-back acquired three weeks ago from Wigan, in the English third division. It was through him, in his very first start with Montreal, that the victorious gestures came in this thrilling match at Saputo Stadium.
His first caviar was his goal, in the 17th minutee minute, on a solid left-footed strike from outside the box. A shot that gave CF Montreal a 1-0 lead. That’s how you earn the fans’ love: with “a really great first” performance, Courtois said.
Meanwhile, up front, Matías Cóccaro was playing his most convincing match since his thunderous start to the season. As if this Mexican opponent had him back in his usual wild, not to say disheveled, form.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
CF Montreal’s Matías Cóccaro (9) scores against Atlético San Luis goalkeeper Andrés Sánchez during the first half of the Leagues Cup soccer match in Montreal, July 30, 2024.
At 28ethe Uruguayan hit the target with a beautiful header, giving CFM a rare 2-0 lead. And who was the author of the superb cross, perhaps the best of the season, from the left?
You guessed it: Tom Pearce.
“I’m very happy,” he said in the mixed zone after the match. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better for my first home game.”
Which of his two gestures did he prefer?
“I think I have to go for the goal!” he says, laughing, in his rich English accent. “But the cross wasn’t bad either.”
He surprised many right from the start, Pearce, showing a fierceness in his duels and in his interactions with his teammates. A hasty behavior, all the same, but we have to admit that he was missed by this team.
“We all saw it,” Mathieu Choiniere said of Pearce’s impact. “He did us a lot of good. Not only his goal and his pass, but his game in general.” […] We are very happy to have him here.”
Enthusiasm in the stands
The Saputo stadium, almost full, was boiling from start to finish. A bit like the ambient heat, by the way.
And the team in front finally managed to convert this enthusiasm with a convincing performance on the pitch.
Apart from a certain increase in power from the visitors after the locker room, it was Montreal who did most of the play in this match. With passing football, carried forward, allowing them to seek out opportunity after opportunity. Like the promise made in preseason which, finally, is coming true.
It was correct. It takes two teams to play. When there is a team that comes just to defend and does not try to win the ball, it is difficult to play well.
Laurent Courtois, head coach of CF Montreal
San Luis, indeed, wanted to build its ground game, starting from the back. Without much success. Which resulted in an open match, during which CF Montreal found several gaps in the opposing defense. Its defenders often moved forward with success. Like this breakthrough by Joel Waterman, in the 32ewhich allowed Matías Cóccaro to get a penalty.
PHOTO DAVID ZALUBOWSKI, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Laurent Courtois
Penalty that was subsequently blocked by goalkeeper Andrés Sánchez. A second consecutive one for the CFM, after the failure of Josef Martínez last Friday, in Orlando.
Ibrahim saves the day
At the hour mark, Laurent Courtois made a saving quadruple change. CF Montreal found its wings again, moved forward again and dominated the end of the match.
Well, he missed a number of golden chances that he created nicely. And Joel Waterman ended up conceding a penalty that led to San Luis’ first goal, scored by Franck Boli in the 76th minute.e.
Sunusi Ibrahim gave Montreal a breather with a lobbed header in the 82nd minute.e for 3-1.
This goal ended up being absolutely decisive. San Luis, with the foot of Jürgen Damm, scored again from the penalty spot in the 103rd minuteeafter a long revision to the video. Again, Waterman was the culprit on this.
“It would have been nice to keep a shutout,” Bryce Duke said. “There were some calls I didn’t agree with. But that’s the way it is. It’s a step in the right direction.”
The scenario for CF Montreal to qualify for the next round is very simple: anything but a regular victory (3 points) by San Luis against Orlando, next Sunday. If this match goes to a penalty shootout, Atlético could only get two points, and would ensure Montreal second place.
“He scared us”
Quebec midfielder Nathan Saliba suffered a hard blow to the head in the first minute of this match. After following the concussion protocol, he returned to the field to finish the first period. But he gave way to Samuel Piette after the break.
“He scared us,” said Laurent Courtois. “His head was spinning. Well, everything’s fine.” [après le match]but he remains under surveillance.”
Rising
Bryce Duke
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Bryce Duke (left)
It was one of those open games that suits Bryce Duke well. We would like to see him as successful, active, creative in all circumstances, even in more closed games. He finished the match with two key passes and a big chance created.
“Bryce found good moments, good places and good timing,” Courtois praised.
Falling
Joel Waterman
Joel Waterman committed two fouls that, after VAR reviews, led to penalties for the opposing team. The CFM, including Bryce Duke, may have complained about “questionable decisions”, but these errors could have sounded the death knell for the team in the League Cup, had it not been for Ibrahim’s insurance goal. Waterman also lost possession 10 times, and did not win aerial duels.