There was no need to blink in this meeting at the Olympic Stadium. Two lightning goals from the Philadelphia Union in the second half spoiled CF Montreal’s first home game of the season, which ultimately lost 2-1.
Posted at 6:12 p.m.
The visitors took advantage of CF Montreal’s defensive — and mental — largesse early in the second half.
After a superb goal disallowed by Djordje Mihailovic, the hosts seemed to have momentarily lost their concentration. Alejandro Bedoya and Daniel Gazdag scored in quick succession, in the 53and and the 56andfor the Union.
PHOTO JEAN-YVES AHERN, USA TODAY SPORTS
Players from both teams sent a message of support to Ukraine ahead of the game, which has been battling a Russian invasion for more than a week.
Montreal had taken the lead in the first half thanks to a somewhat lucky success from Lassi Lappalainen in the 32and minute.
Despite a second yellow card given to striker Julian Carranza, which expelled him from the match with twenty minutes to go, CF Montreal could not come back to the score.
PHOTO ERIC BOLTE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Lassi Lappalainen celebrates his goal with his teammates.
One of the parameters of Wilfried Nancy’s game philosophy is to build from the back. Sebastian Breza is asked to restart the game with short passes or, at least, to be part of the animation. When it works, it results in fast construction… and beautiful soccer. But if the execution is not there, we risk playing with fire. That’s kind of what happened in the first half.
If Lassi Lappalainen was guilty of fairly frequent loss of balls in his own area, it was nevertheless through his left lane that the majority of CF Montreal’s offensive climbs passed.
At the 32and minute, the young Ismaël Koné, new holder, obtained the ball in the surface, courtesy of Alistair Johnston on the right. He deftly handed over to Lappalainen on his left. The latter took a shot with his right foot which deflected on defender Nathan Harriel. The leather rose in the air like a balloon filled with helium… then came back down like a rock, perfectly placed in the right corner of the net. Goalkeeper Andre Blake, foiled, could not believe it. It was 1-0 CF Montreal.
CF Montreal had to do without four of its attackers for this home game. Romell Quioto was suspended after his red card in Orlando, while Mason Toye, Sunusi Ibrahim and Bjørn Johnsen were still absent for various reasons.
We saw Kei Kamara get the 300and start of his career in MLS. He missed a good opportunity with a header, in particular, in the 81and.
Still no victory in MLS this season for Wilfried Nancy’s men, after the 2-0 defeat in Orlando last week.
CF Montreal’s next game will be played at Azteca Stadium in Mexico on Wednesday, March 9. There they will face Cruz Azul in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final.