In such circumstances, a club in disarray like CF Montreal must take what comes. A shutout and a 0-0 draw at home against Nashville doesn’t count as a win in the standings, but it feels good everywhere else.
There was will in the duels. There were defensive plays made with heart and sacrifice. It’s not much, but it gives something to build on after now 8 games without a win, and only 1 win in 13 games, including the elimination in the Canadian Championship.
On the other hand, all these missed opportunities by Montreal enter the column of frustrations. A breakaway from Bryce Duke accompanied by Jules-Anthony Vilsaint, at 51e, ruined by a pass through the legs of a Nashville defender, clearly illustrates the trend of this meeting. Just like this 5 against 2 which ends with a loose shot from Vilsaint in the 58the. The Quebec striker was not successful, despite a multitude of good chances.
We talked about the shutout, and it’s not trivial. Because Montreal has been giving away goals for a month. In MLS, it is at least three goals conceded per match during the month of May.
PHOTO PETER MCCABE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Mathieu Choinière collides with Walker Zimmerman for possession.
In this sense, Saturday night, Joel Waterman had one of his good outings this season. He was the one who provided us with the only real highlight of the first half. After one of Jonathan Sirois’s many errors in handing over the ball, offering it as a gift to Nashville, notably in the 33rde, Joel Waterman played hero by blocking Shaffelburg’s shot at the goal line. In doing so, he hit the post, and appeared to lose his breath instantly.
The kind of sacrificial action that can be beneficial for a team that has been said to be sorely lacking in commitment repeatedly in recent weeks. She showed up with a defensive blunder, another one, but still.
The game was not spectacular. The end of the match, played without urgency. We feel the confidence of this fragile group, the dam ready to give way at each adverse opportunity. But for once, CF Montreal was not downgraded.
We put that in the column of small victories.