CF Montreal 4 – Philadelphia Union 2 | A victory, finally

The stakes weren’t life or death for CF Montreal on Saturday night. But at this point in an up-and-down season, it had to pivot to the other side of the draw. In that sense, a win against a struggling opponent was paramount.

And it was acquired, not without difficulty. Montreal won 4-2 against the Philadelphia Union at Saputo Stadium, thanks in particular to goals from Dominic Iankov and Ruan at the very end of the game. Two nets which broke a 2-2 deadlock, disappointing until the 89th^e minute, and which confirmed the locals’ ascendancy in the second period.

Because the first – at the end of which the Bleu-blanc-noir returned to the locker room with a 2-1 deficit – had been complicated.

“We said we wanted to change the game’s scenario at halftime,” said Laurent Courtois. “The guys made the adjustments, and they were able to be effective in the finishing zone.”

The positive result did not bring Courtois out of his usual calm, and we understand this a little: it was still only the second victory in 15 matches for his group, in all competitions. Against a Union which now only has one in 14 outings, we are not talking about an achievement here either.

“It’s definitely a relief,” the technician nevertheless agrees. It’s nice for the guys who were back. »

Josef Martínez is part of this group, who has been cleared since returning from injury in mid-June. And Saturday evening, among other things thanks to his equalizing goal from 1-1 in the 36th^ethe Venezuelan “drew the group upwards”, analyzed his coach.

Courtois particularly praised Martínez’s “body language,” which has been “communicative” in his “positive energy for a while now.”

The attack unlocks

Martinez’s leadership helped CF Montreal in this encounter, yes. But you would be reading a completely different text if Iankov, who came on as a substitute in the 76th minute,^ehad not threaded the needle after Raheem Edwards’ beautiful pass into the area.

Or if Ruan had not deflected Lassi Lappalainen’s lovely cross in the 92nd minute^e to complete the climb brilliantly.

Or if Bryce Duke had not been lucky on the equalizing goal of 2-2 in the 56th minute^ewhen his free kick beat everyone, including young goalkeeper Andrew Rick, and found its way into the Union goal.

A visiting defender put his foot in it at the end, causing some uncertainty as to who scored the goal, but it is Duke who is credited with it at the time of writing. The height of the bizarre goal was that Martínez almost grazed the ball as he prowled in front of the captor.

“I count it as my goal!” the American said when asked, jokingly, if the trajectory of his shot was planned. […] At first, on the pitch, I was arguing a bit with Josef about whether it was mine or his. I thought: just give it to me, he’s already had enough!

Martínez became the eighth goalscorer in MLS history with his 108^eSATURDAY.

As for Ruan, he took out a mask of the superhero Flash from his pocket when he scored. A gesture which caused hilarity among the CFM players absent from the match sheet, sitting to the right of the press box. Mason Toye, in particular, couldn’t stop laughing.

How long had this mask been hidden?

” I had no idea ! Duke says. He went to look in his pockets, and I wondered what he was going to come out with. He kept it a secret. »

Waiting for feedback

CFM has to deal with the absences of its pillars Joel Waterman, Samuel Piette, Mathieu Choinière and Ariel Lassiter, all at the Copa América. But on Saturday, Matías Cóccaro was also absent, without appearing on the injured list. Was he being punished for his little tantrum on Wednesday, in training?

“A punishment, no,” Courtois replied. “I try to be fair. I try to be as transparent as possible in general. He has a lot, a lot of work to do, and a little bit to do to come to others. It’s not just us who have to go to him.”

That’s still a big assertion of authority from the rookie head coach. And for a long time in this game, it seemed risky.

The first half was soporific on both sides, until Quinn Sullivan, at the half-hour mark, ignited the first spark of the match by scoring 1-0. Martínez got up to score a nice header in the 36th^e… then his team was guilty of many screw-ups on a catastrophic play while trying to defend a corner. Jesús Bueno finally took advantage, and Jim Curtin’s men regained the lead 2-1.

When we returned from the locker room, possession of the ball was clearer and more efficient. To the point of allowing him to score three goals in a row to come from behind, to add three points to his haul, and to return to 10^e position in the standings, two points away from a playoff spot. Can this gain become the foundation on which to build the second half of the season?

“There’s the version where you listen, you apply, you stick together,” Courtois told the media, as if he were talking to his players. “And there’s the version where you hesitate, you forget, you fall asleep and you have difficulties. […] Do you choose the first or second half? »

RISING

Nathan Saliba

Once again with the captain’s armband, Saliba is starting to regain his good feelings of 2023. He was influential as a midfielder on Saturday, completing 92% of his 71 passes. He will have his work cut out to dislodge Samuel Piette or Mathieu Choinière when they return from the Copa, and that is exactly what his coach needs: for his players to have competition in their positions.

FALLING

Jules-Anthony Vilsaint

The last few weeks have been difficult for the Quebec striker, with the unexpected death of a loved one, so we will be gentle with him. But on Saturday, despite starting, he was not on his X, with 60% of successful passes and indecisive touches in the area. He will need a little more consistency to win, especially with the club’s attackers returning to health.