Revolution 2 – CF Montreal 2 | A hard-fought draw for CF Montreal

The grave was dug. CF Montreal was stepping into it. They were ready to bury him. Then he woke up.

Laurent Courtois’ men made a spectacular comeback from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night against the Revolution in New England. A crucial result in this six-point game in the middle of the playoff race.

And against all odds, CFM did it in style. A style that has been sorely lacking not only in the first half of this match, but for most of the season so far.

Coming out of the locker room feeling refreshed, the Bleu-blanc-noir took advantage of two golazos to get back into this encounter. Tom Pearce offered a caviar on a distant free kick, at the 54^e minute. Then, with that momentum, Nathan Saliba scored his first-ever MLS goal with a superb curling shot.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” rejoiced the Quebec midfielder. “I’ve been waiting for this goal for two years. I’m extremely happy to have been able to score it and help the team take this important point on the road.”

“In the second half, the guys came out a little more ambitious and connected,” noted Courtois. “We even think we could have [aller chercher la victoire]that would have been great. But let’s not exaggerate. It was a great half of resilience and fighting spirit.”

“I don’t regret anything”

In truth, had it not been for these magic wands, one has the impression that Courtois would have been the architect of his own misfortune on Wednesday evening.

Because through all this inconsistency at CF Montreal in 2024, there is at least one sure value: a starting lineup of the French technician who leaves us speechless.

After two heavy defeats in a row and in the final stretch of a frankly bad season, finally, the head coach seemed to have found a favourable dynamic with his eleven last Saturday.

Against Charlotte, Caden Clark and Bryce Duke shone in their creative midfield positions, scoring the team’s two goals. The Bleu-blanc-noir also delivered one of its best performances… in months.

On Wednesday, against the Revolution in New England, Courtois proposed no fewer than five changes to this victorious team. Clark and Duke? On the bench. We understand the need for rotation, while the CFM is in its second of three games in a week. But he also has an imperative to win. To build positive momentum. Five new starters, it’s a bit like tempting the devil.

Obviously, from our outside position, we do not have the data on the physical health of the players. But at this stage of the season, resting the main players of a saving victory seems more like a risky move than a reasonable precaution.

“There is an element where I am forced to evaluate the ability of our guys to string together a lot of effort in such a short time,” justified Courtois, who also mentioned the synthetic field at Gillette Stadium.

From the players’ perspective, opinions differ. For Pearce, the changes to the starting eleven don’t change much: “Everyone works hard together in training during the week,” he believes.

But according to Saliba, a period of “readaptation” is necessary when new starters arrive, both for the replacements and for the “regulars”.

“In the second half, we were more on the same page,” he said. “Afterwards, the fresh legs that came in helped us a lot. It’s something normal, and it’s not something that dragged us down so much.”

The arrivals of Clark and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty effectively turned the match in Montreal’s favor.

The CFM defended feverishly for the last five minutes, but it held. It also missed a golden opportunity to leave with all three points late in the game. Its 12-game winless streak on the road continues. We are not yet seeing a clear style of play, despite the 29 games now played in MLS.

Despite all this, CF Montreal is still alive, two points away from a playoff spot.

He will now cross paths with the Chicago Fire on his way, next Saturday, at Saputo Stadium. Another six-point game against a direct opponent in the standings. His eyes, although haggard, are open. Does he have enough energy left to get out of his coffin?

ON THE RISE

Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty

His entry into play in the 62nd^ealong with Caden Clark, really energized the Montreal offense. Lively in his corridor, he also stood out with a solid defensive retreat at the 64^estealing the ball from a Revs player heading for a breakaway. The youngster has guts and willpower.

DOWN

Dawid Bugaj

Bugaj, at 20, is still a young player. While he shows his potential on occasion, Wednesday was a tough one for the Pole. His inaccurate passes (only 72% success rate, according to Sofascore) were the negative highlight of his performance. He was one of the first players to be replaced by Courtois. Marshall-Rutty confirmed that he has, for the moment, the upper hand over his colleague at right-back.