Like last season, CF Montreal begins its season with three consecutive losses. This is perhaps the only similarity between the two editions.
The counter-attacks again hurt the Bleu-blanc-noir, which was defeated by Nashville SC 2-0 on Saturday night, in the pouring rain at GEODIS Park.
Last year the CFM had obtained their first point in the fourth game of the season, but the club had notably triumphed in the Champions League in the meantime. He had suffered two defeats on the road and one at the Olympic Stadium before going to get a draw on the lawn of Atlanta United. He had signed his first victory the following week and the machine had slowly started up before concluding the season in third place in MLS.
“We build from behind like last year, we keep possession like last year, but we are not able to tip the scales in the last third like last year”, summed up defender Joel Waterman, who got his first start of the season after being sidelined with injury.
Can the CFM replay the same blow as last year and ignore a bad start to the season to find itself among the leaders of the general classification? Waterman is anything but convinced.
This season, we are betting a lot on young people who have not yet proven that they can tip the scales. Last year, we had veterans we could rely on and who we knew were going to be decisive. […] It is certain that the addition of one or two experienced players could help us.
Joel Waterman
In fact, the Montreal eleven had not been cleared at each of its outings. Which is still the case this season after 270 minutes of play.
” That hurts me. I’m an attacking coach and I like my team to score goals. I believe that a streak like this has never happened in my career,” admitted Hernán Losada in the face of this observation.
PHOTO MARK HUMPHREY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lassi Lappalainen (21) tries to get past Fafà Picault (7), from Nashville SC.
Although the club representing the City of Music conceded possession to the Montrealers, the CFM did not orchestrate great scoring opportunities. Concretely, the team did not frame any shot on the net during the meeting, an “unacceptable” mark, according to Waterman.
It was however in the game plan of the locals, who erected a real monolithic block, to leave the ball to his rival. In stark contrast, Nashville still haven’t conceded after their first three outings. He was content to take advantage of the CFM’s blunders and take it the wrong way.
Possession is not important. What matters is our number of expected goals, our number of expected assists, our number of shots on target, our number of crosses in the penalty area, our number of broken lines… But whether we had more than two third of the possession, I don’t care.
Hernan Losada
As in CFM’s 1-0 loss to Austin FC last week, an individual error in the attacking third led to the game’s first goal. In fact, another odd in enemy territory allowed Nashville forward Teal Bunbury to escape late on his own and could have ended the debate, but his strike slammed into the post.
It was only a postponement, since the locals hit the mark in the 89e minute of play and confirmed their victory. For a second time in the encounter, success Mister Brightside sounded in the stadium and Losada’s men were beaten again.
With five goals conceded, no goals scored and no points banked, the CFM will want their next match, which will be played at the Olympic Stadium, to be the tipping point. After three grueling encounters on the road, the club will play at home for the first time this campaign.
“Now is not the time to panic,” said defender Aaron Herrera. I’ve been playing in MLS for over six years and I know that down times are coming. Sometimes the ball just won’t go into the net. But the tide eventually turns. »
Note that the Montrealers will cross swords with the Philadelphia Union, finalists of the MLS Cup in 2022. Even the most optimistic are likely to apprehend this confrontation.