Montreal – May 22, 2024
Amid severe thunder, Forge FC smash CF Montreal to advance to the Semi-finals.
The second leg of the Canadian Championship Quarter-final between host CF Montreal and Forge FC took place tonight, with the teams having tied in the first leg by a score of a goal a piece.
The Canadian Premier League side, Forge FC, have never yet defeated an MLS team and would need to do so to advance to the semi-finals. Montreal, on the other hand, would advance with a tie, thanks to their away goal in the first, so long as Forge FC scored less than a pair of goals – at which point they would hold the away goal advantage.
See Also: CF Montreal struggle in loss to Columbus Crew
Both teams are winless since their first tilt, with Forge FC having played a goalless tie against Pacific FC and then losing at hoke 2-1 to Vancouver FC this past Saturday. Montreal’s woes are deeper, having lost three games since last meeting Forge FC and haven’t won in their past eleven matches leading up to tonight.
On an unseasonably hot and humid day in Montreal, that saw temperatures reach 31⁰C, and upwards of 38⁰C with the humidity factor, the skies were now clouding over and the threat of heavy rains seemed to be growing.
CF Montreal seemed to be firmly in control in the early going, weaving quality passes to one another yet struggled to create any openings or get off any shots of substance.
In the fourteenth minute, Forge FC found the back of the net when Daniel Parra Duran found himself all alone and wide open, and capitalized on a nice shot from inside the box.
Just over ten minutes later, they would double their lead, leaving CF Montreal stunned – and their home crowd audibly displeased. Frustrations high, they began to boo their team. This time, it was Kwasi Poku who received a long ball that cruised over the CF Montreal defenders, leaving Poku all alone to tap the ball home past Sebastian Breza.
Minutes into injury time, CF Montreal appeared to have scored when Joaquin Sosa smashed home a perfect shot from near the left post – but the goal was promptly waived off for being offside. Montreal’s goal scoring woes continued.
A two goal deficit at half-time is the worst case outcome Montreal could have hoped for. Now, nothing short of a win would advance CF Montreal to the Semi-Finals. On the other hand, Forge FC were now facing the very realistic probability that their first defeat of an MLS team was at hand.
Moments before the kick-off that would have started the second half, the stadium was cleared in proportion for a massive thunder storm that swooped in and soaked the field. A constant barrage of lightning kept the game on standby, as many dashed for the exits, giving up on the game returning altogether.
In order for the game to restart, a period of thirty minutes has to elapse from the last lighting burst. For many, that wait grew too much as time wore on. Montreal would need a miracle on the pitch – and another just to get back on the field.
After more than two hours, the game finally resumed play – with Stade Saputo visibly empty.
In the 66th minute, Victor Wanyama headed in a cross that had come off a cross from a set play off a corner kick, and CF Montreal were energized by it.
A minute later, Wanyama almost equalized when the ball found him on the penalty spot, by Forge FC keeper, Christopher Kalongo, made one of his many great saves on the night.
The latter portion of the second half saw Montreal fully in control of the ball and the play – but unable to capitalize on their chances. It seemed that Forge FC had set up an offside trap that CF Montreal repeated found themselves snared in, and the plays that did get through were quickly stifled.
“I can’t explain this performance. I’m ashamed,” Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois said. “I’m having a tough time justifying such a lethargic first half. We are ambitious and we have to match these ambitions with actions, but I haven’t seen that and it’s disappointing.”
Read More:
>> KW Titans take the win over Montreal Toundra in the final seconds
>> Tempers flare as Montreal loses to the London Lightning at home
>> Windsor Express hold on to beat Montreal at home
As the minutes trickled down, Montreal trailed by a single goal on the scoreboard but needs a pair to advance to the semi-finals and after regulation time plus three added minutes of injury time, it was Forge FC who had everything to celebrate. Not only were they through to the next round – but they final can boast about having beaten an MLS side.
CF Montreal are back in action this Saturday, when they host Nashville FC at Stade Saputo. Forge FC will take on Athletico the same day.
