When Romell Quioto sniffs out a good deal, he doesn’t let it pass.
Updated yesterday at 11:55 p.m.
CF Montreal won 2-1 against DC United on Saturday night in Washington. Thanks to two goals from the striker in the first half.
It was also the fifth win on the road this season, which is a team record in MLS. After the meeting, Wilfried Nancy said he was “proud” of this achievement.
“It’s part of our goal,” commented the head coach. We want to go as far as possible, in all humility, and write history at club level. »
“There is no fire, not at all, he continues. But I am very proud of this young group. »
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Quioto scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season on Saturday night, making it his highest tally since joining MLS in 2017.
“He could have scored more goals, laughed Nancy. I always challenge him a little higher. I expect him to give even more. He knows it, we talked about it. The opportunities he had today…I want him to step up and keep going. »
It was the Honduran’s scoring sniff, paired with a solid outing in front of the net for James Pantemis, that helped Nancy’s side fare very well in Washington.
CF Montreal had not yet sweated its first drops in the suffocating heat of the American capital, which it was already leading 1-0. Quioto spotted defender Donovan Pines clumsily juggling the ball with just 35 seconds into the game. Then grabbed the leather and carried it to the surface, where he played skillfully to score his first goal of the match.
Interesting stat: it was the third time this season that Montreal scored in the first minute of a game, and the first time on the road.
“It allows us to start on a good basis, said defender Joel Waterman when asked about it. But it’s difficult sometimes when you start the game strong because then you sit down and take things for granted. […] Today, we finished the first half well. »
Pantemis, “to change the dynamic”
CF Montreal then deployed its usual possession game. Until United found their energy midway through the first half. But Pantemis was valiant: the goalkeeper, new starter in the Montreal eleven since last week, made beautiful saves, in the 26e minute in particular, to protect his team’s lead.
By playing Pantemis instead of Sebastian Breza, “the goal was to change the dynamic,” Nancy said.
” I have felt it. James helped us win this game. […] I like competition. It’s good for everyone. Especially for goalies. »
Then, like the instinctive striker that he is, Quioto still played opportunism. Waterman sent him a superb – and long – pass from the back. The Honduran tenaciously defeated defender Gaoussou Samake, then lobbed the goalkeeper for his second of the match, in the 35th minute.e minute.
“I knew Romell was going to do this race, because we had talked about it before the game, commented Waterman. I just wanted to put the ball in the right place, and he took care of the rest. »
DC pulls himself together
The DCU are last in the league standings. He is also waiting for his new head coach, the legendary Wayne Rooney, to start working while his visa issues are settled.
The locals nevertheless made themselves more threatening in the second half. And as Montreal still dictated the game, he took advantage of his opportunity on a set piece to close the gap. Head courtesy of Captain Steve Birnbaum at the 56e.
“Birnbaum has been doing exactly that in this league for a long time,” Alistair Johnston said. We relied on James for several big saves, but we should have ended this game, made him out of reach. »
Nancy’s triple change at 63e set the record straight. The fresh legs of Kei Kamara, Matko Miljevic and Mathieu Choinière gradually calmed the game at Audi Field.
“I am very happy to have won this match like that, in difficulty, explained Nancy. Conditions were not easy.
“We missed opportunities today, but what I remember is the solidarity of the team. They all put on a rag, as they say in the South of France! »