A tall order will be up against CF Montreal in Sunday’s Eastern Conference semi-finals: beating defending Major League Soccer champions New York City FC for the first time this season.
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Indeed, thanks to a convincing 3-0 victory over Inter Miami on Monday in New York, the Big Apple team sent the Florida team on vacation and secured their ticket to the next round.
The Montreal eleven and the NYCFC have crossed swords twice in 2022. If their first meeting had been a real fiasco for the men of Wilfried Nancy, who had folded the backbone 4 to 1, the second duel was ended in a 0-0 draw.
The New York club finished third in the East with 55 points. In 2021, he lifted the MLS Cup by beating the Portland Timbers in a thrilling penalty shootout.
New Yorkers at ease
In the duel of the day, New York City FC did not deviate from its game plan. Calm even though they were unable to hit the target in the first half, Nick Cushing’s men scored three times in the final third of the game.
Gabriel Pereira delivered NYCFC in the 63rd minute by curling a shot into the top corner. He had plenty of room to maneuver thanks to an impressive individual effort from midfielder Santiago Rodriguez.
It is also this same Rodriguez who set the table for the success of Maximiliano Moralez in the penalty area, six minutes later.
Héber Araujo dos Santos nailed the coffin for Inter Miami in stoppage time in the second half, taking advantage of a careless error from the Florida defense, which already seemed to be planning its vacation.
This defeat thus sounded the death knell for the glorious career of Argentinian international Gonzalo Higuain. The 34-year-old striker has announced that this season will be his last.
He also came within a hair’s breadth of opening the scoring in the 23rd minute, but was muzzled by the offside flag.
CF Montreal will face New York City FC on Sunday at Stade Saputo. The match will be broadcast on TVA Sports.
Summary
90 + 2 | Héber really seals the outcome of the meeting in the last moments of the match
69th minute | Maximiliano Moralez allows NYFC to take control 2-0 against Inter Miami, NYFC closes in on CF Montreal
63rd minute – Gabriel Pereira gives New York City FC the lead with a superb left-footed strike, a beautiful goal
27th minute – Aimé Mabika (MIA) achieves quite a rescue! NYCFC bumps into the metal rod, twice rather than once
VAT SPORTS 2 | FC Dallas-Minnesota United
At 9:30 p.m. we will broadcast the playoff match between FC Dallas and Minnesota United.
On Sunday night, CF Montreal got their playoff run off to a good start by signing a 2-0 win in front of a very enthusiastic packed house.