Things have changed a lot since CF Montreal lost to D.C. United, but one trend remains to be broken: failures abroad.
The Bleu-blanc-noir was a vulnerable prey when the Washington team came to extract a 1-0 victory at Saputo Stadium on April 15, in what is still the Montrealers’ only home loss in 2023. .
Hernan Losada’s men had won just one of their first six games of the season, had scored just three goals and had been shut out in their five away games. This return to the Saputo stadium was supposed to be a party, but in the end it never took place.
Since then, CF Montreal (6-8-0) have rallied, winning eight of their last 10 games in all competitions, and earning their place in the Canadian Championship final. They sit ninth in the Eastern Conference, one rung lower than D.C. United (5-6-4).
Wednesday night’s duel at Audi Field is important for the standings, but it also falls into the category of good tests to see where the Montrealers are at in their progress.
“It’s a game like any other when we want to get points away from home. I think we have more confidence right now, during this stretch of games. Especially with the Canadian Championship final coming up. The most important thing is that we are focused on what we have to do,” said forward Ariel Lassiter.
The contribution of Lassiter and Bryce Duke, acquired from Inter Miami CF only a few days before the first clash of the season between the Montreal team and D.C. United, has brought a good dose of offensive creativity to CF Montreal. This is something that was sorely lacking at the start of the campaign.
The return to play of a few injured players also allowed the Bleu-blanc-noir to revive after a very poor start to the season.
“There has been an evolution. We are not the same team as at the start of the season, or when we lost at home. We have a positive mentality and I feel that within the group there is a lot of positive energy. There is also more cohesion between the players and I think things are working a lot better, little by little,” Losada expressed.
Things are working better, except overseas. The Montrealers are practically intractable in front of their fans, but they have recorded only one victory in eight outings on opposing courts in MLS (1-7-0).
The contrast is stark this season, but it’s just as stark in comparison to what happened in 2022. CF Montreal then set an MLS record for most away wins during the season. the same season (11).
As the results have been encouraging over the past few weeks, some players are avoiding panic and feeling like things are about to unravel.
“We have had success before. There are several players who were here last season and they have experience abroad. I think it’s a matter of time before we can win games away from home,” insisted midfielder Victor Wanyama.
A point would already be a step in the right direction for CF Montreal and Losada. The latter will return to Washington, after leading D. C. United for 15 months, between January 2021 and April 2022.
The end of the association between the club from the American capital and the head coach was, however, a bit stormy. A few weeks after Losada’s dismissal, former D.C. United goalkeeper Chris Seitz posted a lengthy Twitter post denouncing the Argentine’s harsh practices.
Now that that story is over, Losada is looking forward to reconnecting with his old team once more and he doesn’t expect any gifts.
“I’m expecting a tough game against an opponent who invested a lot in the offseason. It’s a competitive team, he said. It will be special, because I worked there for a year and a half, in a beautiful stadium and in a good atmosphere. It’s always special when you come back to a place where you worked. »
Although he has returned to the team, forward Mason Toye (knee) should not be in uniform for Wednesday’s game, just like Quebecer Samuel Piette (adductors). Romell Quioto (hamstrings) is long-term injured.