June 28, 2024
CF Montreal double-up on the Philadelphia Union at Stade Saputo in the rain
With the rain gently falling, CF Montreal hosted the Philadelphia Union tonight at Stade Saputo, in what would be a battle between two teams fighting for a playoff spot at the lower end of the Eastern conference table.
Montreal will have to do without several key players for a while longer as Canada advanced at the Copa America tournament, meaning that Joel Waterman, Mathieu Choinière and Samuel Piette remain unavailable for selection. Three Union players are also at the tournament; Andre Blake and Damion Lowe are representing Jamaica and Jose Martinez with Venezuela.
See Also: New York Red Bulls and CF Montreal draw during heat wave
While things have not been easy for Montreal so far this season, largely due to several injuries to key contributors on the squad, a slew of returnees has seen CF Montreal on better pace of late. While the wins are still few and far between, they are still managing to stay in the playoff picture through points earned in draws.
The Philadelphia Union, on the other hand, are currently in a three-game loosing skid and haven’t picked up a point since they last played Montreal – a match that result in a two-all draw.
As has been the case throughout this season, Montreal stared off with a very timid approach, playing overly cautious and making nothing but safe passes and relying on back passing and retaining ball possession without pressing Philadelphia. In turn, the Union took a similar approach to the game; a style usually attributed to low confidence and given the records of both teams, and the lack of key players away on international duty or out due to injury, this cautious play from both teams was understandable.
The Union opened the scoring just under a half-hour into the game when Quinn Sulivan found himself unmarked inside the box, with enough tune to hit a hard, low strike that clipped the inside of the post and went in.
CF Montreal found the equalizer just minutes later when Josef Martinez headed home a Bryce Duke corner, drawing Montreal level.
The cautious play that had marked the opening thirty minutes was now gone, and both teams opened up and were looking to beat the opposing defense using stretch passes and making runs along the side lines.
And then the skies opened up and the rain began to fall heavily, drenching all who dared play on the pitch or watch from the grandstands.
Philadelphia again took the lead when a chaotic scramble in front of Jonathan Sirois’ net lead to an effortless tap in inches from the goal line when the ball somehow landed on the boot of Jesus Bueno. A gift from the gods.
Philadelphia Union lead 2-1 over CF Montreal at half-time.
By the time the second half had begun, the rain had slowed down to just a few sporadic drops, but the conditions on the pitch were still slippery and tricky.
Montreal had began the second period the aggressor and where pressing the Unioj defense in search of the equalizing goal – and it came off another chaotic spree. A Bryce Duke free kick sailed into the box, somehow unchallenged, and amidst a scramble, was booted into the back of Philadelphia’s net by Union defender Jack Elliott – an own goal.
All the momentum of the match had now swung Montreal’s way and they continued to press against a deflated Union defense.
At the 76-minute mark, CF Montreal would make a substitution that would make all the difference. Dominik Yankov was brought on to replace Josef Martinez and with just a few minutes left in regulation time, Yankov found the back of the net, giving Montreal a one-goal lead.
Down so late in the game, the Union were forced to open up their game plan and try force their way up field to have any chance at redemption by way of a tying goal.
An additional five extra minutes where added to the clock for injury time, and with Philadelphia pushing hard for the equalizer, Raheem Edwards found himself with the ball at his feet and he led a counter charge up field where he fed a brilliant pass to Ruan who smashed home Montreal’s fourth goal, putting the contest fully out of reach of the Philadelphia Union’s grasp.
For CF Montreal, the three points tonight are vital as the team chase the last spot needed to make the post-season. While the squad hasn’t lost in their last six contests, tonight’s victory marks just their second win in that period. Still, in a play-off race, every point counts. Philadelphia have now lost their last three contests since drawing 2-2 against CF Montreal earlier in the month.
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With the win, CF Montreal moves ahead of the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern conference standings.
CF Montreal next takes on New York City in the Big Apple on Wednesday July 3rd, while Philadelphia will face off against the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field in Illinois. The Union will need to end their losing streak against last placed Chicago, or the Fire will leapfrog them and send Philadelphia crashing to the bottom of the Eastern Conference table. Montreal faces a New York City team that sits 5th in the East and a full ten points ahead of Montreal.
