The Université de Montréal Carabins won the final of the U SPORTS Canadian Men’s Soccer Championship on Sunday in Ottawa. They defeated the Carleton Ravens 3-2 in a shootout, in front of a shocked crowd.
It was a fourth consecutive appearance in the U SPORTS Canadian Championship final for the Carabins, and the second national title in their history.
At their 21e season of existence, and their 13e Presence at the national tournament, the Carabins therefore won a seventh medal, after those of gold in 2018, silver in 2017 and 2019 and bronze in 2003, 2006 and 2008.
“It’s a great team. I told them in August that if they made sure they had a solid locker room throughout the season, they would be Canadian champions. That’s what happened, I’m so proud of them, ”said head coach Pat Raimondo.
Matteo de Brienne (19e) opened the scoring for the Ravens. The Carabins responded with a sublime strike from Quentin Paumier on a free kick in the dying minutes of the second half.
The duel went into overtime, where Julien Bruce hit the first to give the Carabins the lead. Except that the Ravens, on the last action of overtime, created equality with the success of Daniel Assaf.
In shootout, the Carabins had the advantage 5-4. It was Guy-Frank Essome Penda, MVP in Quebec and Canada, who ended his college career with an exclamation point by converting the Carabins’ fifth shot.
Unsurprisingly, Essome Penda was named tournament MVP. He was accompanied on the championship all-star team by three teammates: Paumier, Luca Ricci and Kareem Sow.