CF Montreal ended its home season in style by serving a 4-1 correction to the Portland Timbers on Saturday evening at Saputo stadium.
The torrential rains did not stop the Bleu-blanc-noir, who ended a streak of seven consecutive games without a victory (0-4-3). An eighth would have set an unenviable record for the team.
Kwadwo Opoku and Sunusi Ibrahim both had a goal and an assist for Montreal while Mathieu Choinière and Mason Toye completed the scoring.
It was CF Montreal’s highest goal total (12-16-5) in a single match this season. He also scored four goals against Minnesota United on June 10.
Hernan Losada’s men have temporarily climbed to eighth in the Eastern Association, one point ahead of three teams trying to get above the red line.
The Timbers (11-12-10) could have confirmed their participation in the playoffs in the Western Association, but they will instead have to wait for their last match of the campaign, against the Houston Dynamo.
Franck Boli deprived Jonathan Sirois of a shutout in the 86the minute, but it was already too little, too late. The Portland team suffered a first setback in its last eight outings.
CF Montreal will benefit from a week off and will return to action on October 21, like almost all MLS clubs, by visiting the Columbus Crew.
A shower of goals
As has often been the case at home, the Montreal team had a good start to the match and orchestrated some nice breakthroughs into enemy territory. Romell Quioto and Ibrahim knocked on the door, but they failed to open the scoring.
After a few threats from the Timbers, CF Montreal got going and hit the target twice in seven minutes of play.
At the 28e minute, Choinière launched Opoku behind the defenders and the latter served a surgical pass at the far post to Ibrahim, who easily completed the maneuver. Opoku was initially thought to be in an offside position, but Dario Zuparic put him into play in the center of the field.
The three Bleu-blanc-noir players were at the origin of their team’s second goal, in the 35the minute. Opoku made a long run and handed the ball to Choinière, who left it to Ibrahim. His cross found no takers in the penalty area, but the Nigerian won a battle for the ball before slipping it to Opoku, who saw his shot deflect off Zuparic’s foot before beating goalkeeper David Bingham.
The visitors left the locker room with confidence, giving a few warning shots at the start of the second half.
Dairon Asprilla first took everyone by surprise at the 50e minute, when his shot from outside the box curved inches past the post to Sirois’ left. The Quebec goalkeeper then stood out by stopping Felipe Mora’s attempt, a few feet from the net.
The Montrealers dealt a hard blow to their opponents about three minutes later. On the counterattack, Quioto made a long pass to his right to Choinière, who fired a violent shot that reached the right corner behind Bingham.
Entered the match at 69e minute, Toye was rewarded with a goal when he pounced on a juicy return shot from Ariel Lassiter. It was a first goal since June 10 for the American striker.
The Timbers silenced the fans for a few moments when Boli deftly deflected a pass from Yimmi Chara with his heel. CF Montreal players argued that Chara had touched the ball with his hand, but the referees ultimately confirmed the goal.