CF Montreal took advantage of their last home game to offer a 1-0 win over DC United to the 19,619 fans attending Saputo Stadium, another full house.
• Read also: CF Montreal: Nancy is not going too fast
James Pantemis had to make some big saves to get his shutout and Gabriele Corbo made a save on the goal line.
The only goal was scored in the 41st minute. Zachary Brault-Guillard’s low cross is deflected into goal by Donovan Pines in the middle of a slide. An own goal was granted.
Pines provoked a late-game penalty by shoving Ismaël Koné, but David Ochoa blocked Joaquin Torres’ shot.
Even playing with one less man since Pines was sent off for fouling Koné, DC scared the hosts by scoring with less than five minutes to go.
Fortunately for the Montrealers, there was an offside.
As we’ve said several times before, CF Montreal are confident of second place in the Eastern Conference, but this win combined with a searing 4-0 defeat for Philadelphia Union to Charlotte keeps things interesting for the final weekend.
In fact, the Montrealers now have 62 points, two less than the Union.
Another element of interest, Toronto FC will be Union’s last opponent at home next Sunday, while Bleu-blanc-noir will travel to Miami.
Wilfried Nancy’s men will therefore play something in the last game of the season, but it will be for first place rather than a place in the playoffs. It is refreshing.
Also note that the team has an enviable record of 10-1-3 in their last fourteen games.
Quioto wounded
The club announced ahead of the match that Romell Quioto was out of uniform due to a thigh injury. This brings us to an observation, he often returns hurt from his stays with the selection of Honduras.
Hopefully this injury is not serious as he is the team’s top scorer this season with 15 goals in 30 games. His presence will be essential in the playoffs.
Another card, Joel Waterman was injured late in the game following heavy contact with Christian Benteke. He finished the match, but collapsed to the ground at the final whistle and received treatment.
Guardian:
D. Ochoa.
Defenders:
V. Palsson (replaced by C. Odoi-Atsem at 68 ‘), D. Pines, S. Birnbaum, S. Guediri.
environment:
C. Durkin, S. Djeffal (replaced by J. Alfaro in the 81st minute), J. Hopkins (replaced by R. Morrison in the 64th minute), M. Berry (replaced by T. Ku-Dipietro in the 81st minute) minute), M. Rodriguez (replaced by K. Smith in the 69th minute).
Striker:
C. Benteke.
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Guardian:
J. Pantemis.
Defenders:
J. Waterman, R. Bed, G. Corbo.
environment:
L. Lappalainen (replaced by J. Kwizera at 46 minutes), M. Choinière (replaced by S. Piette at 46 minutes), V. Wanyama, I. Koné (replaced by R. Zouhir at 83 minutes), Z Brault-Guillard (replaced by A. Johnston in the 69th minute).
Striker:
M. Toye (replaced by K. Kamara at 62 ‘), J. Torres.
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But
Montreal: Pines (41st – on the net) DC UNITED: none
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Cartoons
MONTREAL: None DC UNITED: Hopkins (51 °), Pines (79 ° red), Benteke (90 ° + 4)
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SHOTS |
STOP |
|
|
DCU |
3 |
3 |
|
MTL |
3 |
3 |
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DEFECTS |
GAMES EXCLUDED |
|
|
DCU |
13 |
3 |
|
MTL |
10 |
1 |
|
COINS |
||
|
DCU |
3 |
|
|
MTL |
2 |
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Bulletin
Photo Agence QMI, Thierry Laforce
Ismael Koné
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8/10 | Ismael Koné
- Very restless in midfield, he smelled the open spaces between the DC lines and provoked a penalty shot.
7.5 / 10 | Giacomo Pantemis
- He wasn’t busy, but he made some big bailouts. He took the closure.
7.5 / 10 | Gabriele Corbo
- Another very good exit; he was really very interesting, this young man. He saved a goal on the line.
7.5 / 10 | Rudy Camacho
- A calm and serene performance with a lot of control.
7.5 / 10 | Victor Wanyama
- He provided a reassuring presence in midfield and was very stable.
7.5 / 10 | Joel Waterman
- A game according to his usual quality standard, where he doesn’t make big mistakes and where he plays fair.
7.5 / 10 | Mathieu Choinière
- Very energetic and often in the right place to receive interesting services.
7.5 / 10 | Lassi Lappalainen
- He was combative in his lane, both offensive and defensive. As he was recovering from an injury, Nancy saved him and played only the first half.
7.5 / 10 | Joachim Torres
- Dynamic, he used his speed well to disturb the opponent in the last third. He missed a penalty shot.
7/10 | Joy Faith
- Bring speed to his lane and try to spice up the attack.
7/10 | Zachary Brault-Guillard
- A safe game. He made the cross that led to the goal that opened the scoring.
6/10 | Mason Toye
- For lack of confidence, he has lost his bearings and struggles to make the right decision: his whole game suffers.
6/10 | In Kamara
- Twice at the end of the match, he missed golden opportunities in front of a nearly empty goal. The kind of luck he never fails.
In praise of constancy
We had to be patient, very patient also to collect the post-match comments from Wilfried Nancy, who appeared in front of the media more than thirty minutes before the end of the match.
If it took him so long to get to the press room, it’s because he addressed his men in the locker room.
I took the time to talk to my team, it was important to talk to my players to tell them what they have been up to from the start. “
“We will play the playoffs, but it’s only four games. The most important thing is what we do in 34 games and our consistency. Nineteen MLS wins are strong. “
Murderous instinct
Since this is a question of consistency, we can underline that often the team closed the games a bit tight, bending without breaking. This was the case again on Saturday night, when DC lobbied to equalize the game, while the locals should have left the game much earlier.
“We managed to keep the score, it’s not easy, even though they dropped to ten towards the end, Ismaël Koné stressed. There are elements of the game that need to be better, we have to finish the game much earlier in the second half. ”
“The game could have ended 4-0 if we had been strong. These are aspects we will work on. “
This win allows CF Montreal to get close to just two points behind the Philadelphia Union and first place in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia in the lead
“We are not focused on Philadelphia, we are focused on us. Maybe my teammates knew they had lost, but I didn’t, I preferred to focus on my game,” Koné insisted.
After Koné in front of the media, Rudy Camacho nevertheless indicated that he had taken note of the situation.
“We have a chance, so we’ll play it hard. We will play first place in Miami hoping them [l’Union] perform poorly against Toronto. “
Romell Quioto was out of uniform due to a thigh injury. Crossed near the press box, he seemed at ease with him. Wilfried Nancy has indicated that he does not know more for the moment.
“He got injured in the selection. We are waiting to see some. I hope it doesn’t pass too long and that he is available for the first game of the playoffs. “
As for Joel Waterman, who was injured late in the game, Nancy said she received a stroke, that she had a bruise, but that she expected it to be not serious.
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