Major League Soccer: CF Montreal is still not satisfied and loses to New York City FC

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CF Montreal prepared well for their duel against New York City FC, but they ultimately failed their test on Wednesday night.

The team conceded two goals in the first half and lost 2-0 to the New Yorkers at Yankee Stadium.

In the days leading up to the match, head coach Hernan Losada spoke about the cramped and small stadium in which New York City FC played, and also mentioned the new players who had recently arrived at the ‘Cityzens’. Unfortunately, his men ran out of solutions.

They did find some in the second half, but it seemed like New York City FC (6-10-11) had already gone into protection mode. The damage was already done within seven minutes of the first half.

“Obviously there was a difference between the first and second half. At the beginning it was complicated for us. I don’t know if it was because of the terrain, but that’s for both teams. Our team managed to improve, but both goals were scored in situations we could have avoided.

The two goals mentioned are the work of Andres Gasson and Moncef Bekarr. It was the first Major League Soccer goal for Bakrar, who arrived in New York in mid-July.

The common denominator between these two successes is that Montreal (11-13-2) was subjected to a little harsh pressure, despite the reduced space on the field, and that it was unable to recover long balls from its opponents.

Losada targeted midfielders Andrés Perea and Keaton Parks in order to restart the NYC attack, but they managed to create an attack without problem in the first half.

“We were pressing Perea and Parkes because we knew they were the two players involved in creating chances, but when they played the long ball to avoid pressure, our midfielders weren’t there in time. We needed to be closer in pressing. Even when there was bad touch “They had the opportunity to get the ball back because we were away,” Losada pointed to the two goals.

It would have been a different game if Lassi Lapalainen had fired on goal in the 19th minute, rather than seeing the ball hit the crossbar. Goalkeeper Matt Friese also stopped a shot from Mathieu Schwennier that could have cut the deficit to one goal in the second half.

Nothing helps with Montreal’s team record on the outside this season. It suffered its tenth defeat in 14 matches and was excluded from competitive stadiums for the tenth time in 2023.

“We need a lot of scoring chances,” Losada said simply. When we’re out and about, we have to be efficient. »

Despite suffering its first loss in its last four games, CF Montreal missed an opportunity to distance itself from NYCFC and other teams in the race for the Eastern Conference playoffs. The number of positive results on Wednesday still allows him to maintain eighth place.

Nick Cushing’s men came within three points of the Chicago Fire and the ninth and final spot which allowed them to reach the playoffs.

Striker Ariel Lassiter is back in the game after being injured during Montreal’s gameless break, having missed both of his team’s victories upon their return from their early elimination in the French League Cup.

CF Montreal will return to action on Saturday night hosting Wilfried Nancy and Columbus Crew. This will be Nancy’s first game at Saputo Stadium since he took over the Crew during the off-season.

Two quick, painful goals

CF Montreal was able to fend off enemy attacks early in the game and was able to attack. Lapalainen’s right-foot shot beat Freeze, but not the horizontal crossbar.

New York City responded minutes later when Brian Covery hit the crossbar after a powerful left-footed shot.

The home team was able to recover with two quick goals, in the 30th and 37th minutes.

After accepting a pass down the middle, Coffrey flicked the ball down his right to Jason, who rounded defender Gabriele Corbu before unleashing an accurate left-footed shot. New York City added more when Backar got rid of Joel Waterman to fool the alertness of Jonathan Siruis with a low shot.

Trailing by two goals, Montreal increased their tempo in the second half and tried their luck several times, without opening the scoring. Both Lassiter and Choinière confronted Frieze.

And the New York team thought that it had scored the third goal when Maximiliano Moralez rushed behind the opponent’s defense to move the strings in the 69th minute, but the referee on the bench ruled that the Argentine player was in an offside position.

The blue-blanc-noir could not threaten in the final quarter of an hour, which was choppy due to the many stops in play, and saw their winning streak come to an end.