Heartbreaking defeat for CF Montreal in the race for the playoffs

If CF Montreal misses the playoffs, the diagnosis of his disease will be clear: he allows too many late goals. The Bleu-blanc-noir lost 1-0 to the Red Bulls in New York on Saturday, a result that greatly undermines their hopes of continuing their season beyond November 7.

Jean-Francois Téotonio
Press

Fábio scored with a header in the 91^e minute to give the locals the lead. A goal that echoed that granted to Toronto FC in the 95^e minute, last October 23, for a final score of 1-1. Those were two points lost in Toronto, two points given to his direct rivals in the standings in New York.

Montrealers are therefore treading water at 9^e row with 43 stitches. The Red Bulls now have 46 points and provisionally hold seventh position, the last giving access to the playoffs.

“We have frustration, disappointment,” commented Samuel Piette after the meeting. I don’t think we deserved to lose this afternoon and not take the win against Toronto. ”

“We knew they were going to put a lot of pressure,” meanwhile head coach Wilfried Nancy via videoconference.

“With three minutes to go, we had a draw. […] We could have raised the block, put the ball in front and kill the match like that, ”he added, noting“ the great intensity ”of the Red Bulls at the end of the game.

The Montrealers had dominated the engagement for possession (63.6%), especially in the first half. Except that the shots on goal mostly went towards the Montreal net: the Red Bulls attempted 16 shots, including five on target. Visitors attempted seven, including only one on target.

This shot on target, it came from the foot of Sunusi Ibrahim in the 8^e minute, an opportunity he had created from scratch. But his shot went right in the middle, and the New York goalie was holding the fort. It was the only real chance of the game for CF Montreal.

This is where the shoe pinches. Because with the prolonged absences of Mason Toye and Romell Quioto, offensive creativity is starting to really fail at CF Montreal.

“We had chances, but not a lot,” said Wilfried Nancy. We didn’t put them on. I didn’t feel that we were losing the game. ”

“If Sunusi scores the goal, what do we say? They say he had a great game. […] The players try to create chances, but we did not put the goals, ”he added after listing the chances of scoring in the last games of his team.

This deficiency in attack puts even more pressure on the defense and the midfielder, believes Samuel Piette.

“We are not entitled to error defensively,” said the Canadian international.

“It’s difficult and heavy, especially on a defense and in the midfield. […] Each time, you tell yourself that you have to play the perfect match in defense. ”

Breza holder

Wilfried Nancy had reserved a big surprise for amateurs by establishing Sebastian Breza at the expense of James Pantemis. This decision quickly paid off: the original Ottavian must have stood out from the 2^e minute after a dangerous turnaround caused by a failed pass from Samuel Piette into his own zone.

The doorman did it again at 29^e and at 54^e, still saving the furniture after mistakes by his teammates in front. He was however beaten at the 69^e, but Cristian Cásseres Jr.’s shot hit the post.

“I felt I had to make a change from the goalie to have a different momentum and a different dynamic,” said Nancy. It was the choice of the moment. ”

It must be said that Breza had been heroic in the middle of the week during the semi-final of the Canadian Championship against Forge FC. His goal at the very end of the shootout sent CF Montreal to the final.

End of calendar at home

There are only two games left at CF Montreal to try to qualify for the playoffs, and they will have the advantage of playing them at home.

He will return to Saputo Stadium next Wednesday after a four-game trip abroad, facing the Houston Dynamo, a club already eliminated in the West.

His last chance will be on November 7 during “Decision Day” in MLS. Orlando City will tread the Montreal lawn there.

CF Montreal were watching other results on Saturday, including the game between DC United (44 points, 8^e) and the Columbus Crew (41 points, 10^e). Atlanta United drew against Toronto FC, finishing fifth with 47 points.

Midfielder Victor Wanyama was back in the lineup as a substitute, having been hampered by a knee problem since October 2.