August 9, 2025
Atlanta United and CF Montreal play to a draw at Stade Saputo
Two of the lower positioned teams in the Eastern conference of the MLS took to the pitch tonight, with a little more than just pride on the line, as the visiting Atlanta United and CF Montreal clashed for just the first time this season.
Hassoun Camara was inducted onto the Wall of Fame prior to the match, becoming the seventh former player to be given the honor, one that Camara now shares with Nevio Pizzolitto, Gabriel Gervais, Greg Sutton, Mauro Biello, Patrice Bernier and Ignacio Piatti. Some of the greatest names to have played for the club so far.
See Also: Efrain Morales signs multi-year contract extension with CF Montreal
CF Montreal continued to improve its play following a solid showing at the Leagues Cup, despite being knocked out in the group stage. Montreal had moments where they pressured Atlanta United and came close to opening the scoring early in, when Dante Sealy rang a shot off the post. Another chance saw Petrusso role a shot just to the outside of the post, forcing Guzman to dive in an attempt to parry away the ball.
American international goalkeeper Brad Guzman was busy, deflecting balls away while sporting a face mask due to having facial surgery to repair a broken cheek bone a month and a day ago.
Dante Sealy’s marker was the lone goal of the half despite CF Montreal finding several quality chances at feeding a ball beyond goalkeeper Brad Guzman. The goal came from a nice passing play from Prince Owusu, who found Luca Petrusso with room to break into the box, bringing the attention of the entire entire Atlanta United back line with him, only to his right, was a wide open Sealy, who received a crisp pass from Petrusso and made no mistake putting the ball low and hard into the back of the goal.
The second half was a one that saw Atlanta United fight hard to draw level, earning several solid chances along the way. The difference was CF Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier, who was making his MLS debut for his new club, after getting hos first start with the team at the Leagues Cup.
Finally, Atlanta United reaped the dividends of their hard work in the 87th minute, as a scramble in front of the Montreal goal, off a corner kick, lead to Aleksei Miranchuk heading home the equalizing goal. Not pretty by any means, but it gets the job done.
Miranchuk nearly put his team ahead five minutes later, when he rang the ball off the crossbar in added time. CF Montreal were now fully on their heels and the game that looked as if there’s to win, was now one in which they were holding on for dear life in, and would be lucky to emerge from with a draw.
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CF Montreal have found improvement late in the season, but it will ultimately be a case of too little, too late. Yet, for a squad that is about to enter a rebuilding stage, finding any sort of form will be a welcomed sight for those that still come out to support the club.
CF Montreal will have another shot at climbing out of the Eastern conference basement on August 16th, when they host DC United – the team directly above them in the standings. Atlanta United will next visit the Colorado Rapids, also on August 16th. A win against DC United, would move Montreal ahead of them, and into a three way tie for twelve in the East with Atlanta United and Toronto FC.
