Whether it’s the Canadian Championship or the MLS regular season, one of the two teams is going full throttle and the other is in a slump, a game between CF Montreal and Toronto FC always has a special character. This is still the case this week in the Montreal camp.
The next chapter in this rivalry will be written on Wednesday night, as Toronto FC host CF Montreal in one of two Canadian Championship semi-finals.
This will be the first duel between the two teams since the final of the 2021 Canadian Championship, which CF Montreal won 1-0 on November 21 at Saputo Stadium, thanks to a goal from Romell Quioto scored in the 72e minute. “It’s a derby. A derby is not lost, it is won,” noted Zachary Brault-Guillard after the Montreal players’ training session on Monday at Center Nutrilait.
“It has been our rival for a long time, and these are always matches with quality, intensity in the duels, in the races, in the game, he added. We want to do well there. It’s worked pretty well for us in the past since I’ve been here. […] There, it’s a semi-final. There is no gift. It’s going to be a big game. »
Drop in speed
This meeting will give CF Montreal the opportunity to emerge from its torpor of the last few weeks.
After going on an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) between mid-March and mid-May, the Montreal team has a record of one win and three losses in its last four outings in MLS. Three of these games took place at Saputo Stadium.
The drop in momentum dropped CF Montreal (7-6-2) to fifth place in the Eastern Conference, four points behind leaders New York City FC, who played one less game.
“We are still unsatisfied with the last game,” admitted Ismaël Koné, referring to the 0-1 defeat against Austin FC on Saturday, despite the advantage of a player for more than 45 minutes.
“So it’s going to be even more important for us. Very important, this match, and not to be taken lightly. »
As for Toronto FC, the situation is much less rosy. With their record of 4-8-3 and their 29 goals conceded, the most in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto troupe ranks 12e place in the East and is in danger of missing the playoffs for a second straight year.
In what could be seen as a source of consolation for the team led by Bob Bradley, Toronto FC have been crowned 2020 Canadian champions – the final of this tournament has been postponed to June 4 due to scheduling conflicts. to the coronavirus pandemic — thanks to a 5-4 shootout win over Hamilton’s Forge FC.
“Right now they are in trouble, they have their problems. They have been “boosted” because they won the 2020 Canadian Championship in 2022. So they are good with that,” CF Montreal head coach Wilfried Nancy said Monday noon.
“In addition, they play at home, there is all the context for them. It is certain that on Wednesday, they will give everything, as we will give everything. Of course they want to go far, like us,” he added.
As is usually the case, Nancy hasn’t given up on which roster he plans to send to the artificial turf at BMO Field, except for the identity of his goalie. “It’s James [Pantemis] Nancy announced.
“For the moment, I operate like this. Since Sebastian [Breza]right now, is number one, number two is playing the Canadian Championship. [James] will begin. It will do him good to play. Let him have fun for this match. »
For Pantemis, it will be his second game in 2022, and his first against an MLS club since October 23. On that occasion, Pantemis conceded the equalizer to Jozy Altidore late in second-half stoppage time in a crucial 1-1 draw at BMO Field.
In his only outing in front of the Montreal nets since that day, Pantemis only had to block one shot, that of David Choinière in the 78e minute of play, to earn a 3-0 shutout against Forge FC in the quarter-finals of the Canadian Championship on May 25.
As for which players will accompany Pantemis on the pitch, Nancy explained that he still has some decisions to make.
“There may be changes depending on the freshness, depending on the other games we have and which are coming. […] We will see in relation to the context, in relation to many things. »
After Wednesday’s game, CF Montreal will be back in MLS on Saturday night when they host Charlotte FC. He will then travel to the Pacific Coast for games in Seattle on June 29 and against the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 4.
Between these last two meetings, CF Montreal will remain in the American West.