CF Montreal expects an exciting away game against the Philadelphia Union in the first round of the Leagues Cup playoffs on Friday.
“We’re going to have to be at our best to avoid putting the Union in a position to win,” CF Montreal coach Laurent Courtois said in a video conference on Thursday. “We also know we can score and hurt them.”
“There is the approach of being competitive [et de vouloir cheminer plus loin]”At the same time, you’re always trying to evolve and try things — not experimentation, but this notion of never getting too comfortable. It’s going to be an exciting game,” he added.
CF Montreal is in its first playoff round at this tournament, having notably lost in the group stage in 2023. The winner of the match between CF Montreal and the Union will then have a date against FC Cincinnati, second in the East in MLS, or Santos Laguna, on August 12.
The club secured its spot with a 3-2 regulation win over Atletico San Luis last Tuesday at Saputo Stadium, combined with San Luis’ 1-1 (5-4) loss to Orlando City on Sunday.
This will be the third game between the Bleu-blanc-noir and the Union this year, with CF Montreal posting a 1-0-1 record at this point.
There was a 2-2 draw on June 1, away, then a 4-2 victory in Montreal on June 29.
In MLS, the two teams are on 27 points from 25 games, on the verge of a playoff spot in the East.
“It’s a good time to see how far we can go in this competition,” said CF Montreal midfielder and captain Samuel Piette. “We also want to keep what we’re doing well for the nine games we have left in [saison régulière de la] MLS. »
“There is a kind of rivalry between us and “Philly”, that’s how I see it,” Piette continued. “The games are always interesting. They are physical and we have to respond to that intensity. Both teams use this tournament to regroup and attack the final stretch of the season. [en MLS] with confidence. “
Last year, the Union reached the semi-finals of the League Cup.
Jim Curtain’s team can once again count on defender Nathan Harriel and midfielder Jack McGlynn, who were part of the American team at the Paris Olympics.
McGlynn has three goals and five assists this season.
The Union are unbeaten in four games, all at home, in all competitions.
Before that, the club had won just once at Subaru Park, in 13 occasions.
Hungarian Daniel Gazdag is the fourth leading scorer in MLS, with 14 goals.
CF Montreal has not won away since March 2 and 10 against FC Dallas and Inter Miami respectively, after a draw in Orlando to open the MLS campaign.
Since then, their record in opposing stadiums is eight defeats and four draws.