CF Montreal roared one last time in the regular season before starting their playoff run Sunday at Drive Pink Stadium, where they crushed Inter Miami CF 3-1.
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Wilfried Nancy’s men necessarily needed this gain to preserve their hopes of concluding the 2022 campaign at the top of the Eastern Association. However, they had to combine this victory with a defeat by the Philadelphia Union, which was not the case, as the Pennsylvania team triumphed 4-0 against Toronto FC.
Nevertheless, the Club de Foot ended its season with 65 points in 34 games, which earned them second place in the East, and it will begin its playoff run at Stade Saputo.
In today’s duel, the team from La Belle Province took advantage of the heavy rain in Florida at the start of the match to score all of their three goals before halftime.
From the fifth minute of play, Ismaël Koné took advantage of a serious blunder by goalkeeper Drake Callender, who was nonchalantly controlling the ball in his penalty area, to steal it and hand it to Djordje Mihailovic, who only had to push him into a gaping cage.
Ready for the playoffs
Just three minutes later, Mihailovic continued his excellent game by juggling through several opposing defenders, before serving the ball on a silver plate to Lassi Lappalainen. The latter only had to set foot on the round object to double the lead of the visitors.
Mihailovic also thinks his game is on point for the playoffs.
“I have the impression of playing well for a few weeks, even for the last month, said the American, after the duel against Miami. It took me three or four games after my return from injury to get back into shape. Since then, my confidence has returned.
Finally, in the 36th minute, Kei Kamara received virtually no opposition as he headed into the opposing net, with the ball at his feet, so he had no trouble getting past Callender.
The crowd favorites were only able to respond late, in the 85th minute. Trying to defend a pass into the box from goalkeeper James Pantemis, defender Joel Waterman instead kicked the ball straight into his net, depriving Pantemis of a shutout.
Place in Orlando
In addition, CF Montreal will face Orlando City SC for its first playoff duel. The Florida team made sure to finish the regular season in seventh and last place giving access to the post-season in the East by winning 2-1 against the Columbus Crew.
“It will be an exciting home game,” Mihailovic said.
“We don’t look at their standings because we know they are a good team with good players,” he added of Orlando City SC. We also have to tell ourselves that what we did in the regular season means nothing in the playoffs.
For his part, midfielder Samuel Piette spoke of the importance of not projecting too much into the future.
“It is possible that our course in the series is shorter than expected if we think too far and the final for example, said the Quebecer. It’s one game at a time. We are now focusing on Orlando!”