The CF Montreal machine is well and truly underway in 2022. And it can thank its engine, Djordje Mihailovic.
Posted at 5:10 p.m.
Updated at 6:58 p.m.
The American was the conductor of this 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Bleu-blanc-noir’s home opener at Saputo Stadium on Saturday. A third in a row, moreover, and a fourth match without defeat for the men of Wilfried Nancy.
On Saturday, Mihailovic was involved in both of his own goals, notably scoring the first goal of the match at the very start of the game.
For defender Alistair Johnston, there is no doubt. “Mihailovic’s name needs to be part of the MLS Most Valuable Player conversation,” he said after the game.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
“He plays on a whole new level,” he adds, ravely.
The first moments of the match demonstrated this quite frankly. Both teams were still stretching their legs after kick-off… but Mihailovic was ready. The American opened the scoring from the 2and minute, on a nice lobbed pass from Johnston himself. The fiery number 8 had sniffed out the bargain moments earlier, taking advantage of a disorganized Whitecaps defense and a gaping hole down the left wing.
“When you have a player like Djordje Mihailovic, you just have to raise your head and send the ball to him, analyzed the Canadian defender. He will receive it and take care of it. »
Same story from Montreal captain Victor Wanyama.
Djordje is a great player, commented the Designated Player. He has quite a talent. It is currently on fire. If he continues his momentum, I see him in bigger leagues. He must continue to remain humble.
Victor Wanyama
CF Montreal dominated the engagement in the first half. He was patient with the ball. He was meticulously building his game until an opening appeared. It must be said that the Whitecaps did not offer much opposition at that time.
But Wilfried Nancy obviously wanted to keep both feet on the ground after the meeting.
“We weren’t terrible, even in the first half,” commented the head coach. We started both periods well, it was super interesting. We managed to pick up speed and unbalance them as we had planned. But then there was a lack of control in the game.
Mihailovic with the United States?
Because yes, CF Montreal was having a good time at the start of the two periods. The locals doubled the lead after the break. Mihailovic, again, projected himself with speed in the center of the field towards the net. He got a decisive pass by putting the ball back in the area to Romell Quioto, who hit the mark in the 47thand minute.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Djordje Mihailovic has four goals and three assists this season in MLS. A call from the United States in anticipation of the 2022 World Cup is most certainly in his sights. And this is an increasingly possible possibility.
Talk to Canadian international Alistair Johnston.
He is a game-changer in a game. I know a few players from the American team, and I know that he is knocking on the door of the selection. But the midfield is a difficult position to integrate into this team.
Alistair Johnston
“I’ll put it this way: as a Canadian, I wouldn’t like to have to face him. So maybe it’s the best thing that Gregg Berhalter [le sélectionneur américain] hasn’t invited him yet. But he deserves it, no doubt. »
Wilfried Nancy also believes it.
“He has the qualities to do something good with his national team,” he said. I am not in discussion with his selection. He has to control what he can control, be good on the pitch and in training, and then we’ll see. »
Complicated end of game
The Whitecaps would finally show some signs of life from the hour mark. Forward Brian White beat Montreal goalie Sebastian Breza in the 63and to make it 2-1.
“In the second half, from the 20and minute, I didn’t like it, Nancy blurted out. But hey, we’ll remember the victory. »
However, it was not acquired at this time. Complicated minutes for CF Montreal were to follow. We even thought that the worst was going to happen, deep in stoppage time. The Whitecaps believed they had scored the equalizing goal in the 93and minute, shot from the head of Tosaint Ricketts. But on video replay, it was decided that the Canadian striker was offside, a second goal denied to the Whitecaps in this match. The three points were safe.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Sebastian Breza was foiled only once during the game.
“The values and the spirit of this team is that it is inclined to attack, analyzed Nancy. But we have to defend well. We didn’t defend well because we no longer had control of the ball. »
“We have to learn from that because we gave them the chance to come back in this game. But the goal is always to be high on the pitch. »
The atmosphere was hushed at the start of the game at Stade Saputo. The 12,042 supporters gathered were especially heard at the end of the game, when CF Montreal was playing more nervously.
“We continue to improve,” noted Alistair Johnston. There were still difficult moments, especially in the second half. When we lead 2-0 at home, we have to go get a third. You have to kill the match instead of receiving the opposing waves at the end of the match. »
“If you want to be a good team in this league, you have to win at home. It’s non-negotiable. »