MONTREAL 鈥� CF Montreal is back in the win column after securing a 2-1 Major League Soccer win over Charlotte FC on Saturday night at Stade Saputo.
Montreal鈥檚 form had suffered of late, with just one win in MLS since July, but Laurent Courtois鈥� squad showed a level of poise and control over the tempo of the game that had not been seen since the beginning of the season.
鈥淲hat we鈥檝e changed in the last few weeks or months in terms of our methodology or coaching, is nothing. We did the exact thing, We had the exact same words, and we expressed them the exact same way,鈥� said Courtois. 鈥淭oday, everything just clicked.鈥�
Caden Clark scored for the first time as a Montreal (7-12-9) player in the 23rd minute, in addition to Bryce Duke鈥檚 goal three minutes later that ended up being the winner, while Tim Ream found the back of the net for Charlotte (10-10-8).
Montreal had the first major scoring chance of the match after 15 minutes of play. With a free kick roughly 25 metres away from goal, Gabriele Corbo sent a near-perfect shot smashing off the crossbar.
Montreal would continue to dictate the tempo in the opening phase, finding first blood just seven minutes later.
Following a phenomenal triple-save from Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, the ball fell to Clark who volleyed the ball into the wide-open net, picking up his first goal for the club.
鈥淚 think you don鈥檛 lose the feeling (of scoring), everything happens for a reason, you just can鈥檛 lose yourself in the chaos,鈥� said Clark, who had missed a full season due to injury and was briefly without a club, but was grateful for Courtois鈥� confidence in him.
鈥�(To have a coach鈥檚 confidence) is huge and is something I鈥檝e had both ends of so you just can鈥檛 take advantage of that in the wrong way. I鈥檓 going to keep my discipline with the game plan and keep my head right.鈥�
With momentum completely on their side, the home side doubled the lead just three minutes later. Montreal continued to build up play on the left flank and found a streaking Raheem Edwards in behind the defence who cut the ball back to Duke, sending the Stade Saputo crowd into a frenzy.
Just after the half-hour mark, Charlotte pulled one back through a set piece 鈥� something Montreal has struggled defending all season 鈥� as Ream rose above everyone at the back post to score his first with his new club.
The second half began in a similar fashion to the end of the first, with Charlotte pressing high up the pitch and forcing several turnovers in dangerous areas. After surviving the pressure, Montreal began to regain control of the game near the hour mark, enjoying the lion鈥檚 share of the possession while Charlotte looked to hit back on the counterattack.
鈥淚 think when we conceded that goal we were like 鈥榟ere we go again.鈥� 2-1 is a tough lead before halftime 鈥� and at the beginning of the half we kind of shot ourselves in the foot and they pressed a bit more, they moved a bit more forward and that opened some gaps,鈥� said captain Samuel Piette.
鈥淚 was happy with that, it shows character. At the end of the day, we just wanted the three points and that鈥檚 what we got.鈥�
As the game progressed, Charlotte pushed harder to find an equalizer but to no avail. With only one shot on target conceded, the second-worst defence in the league put up an impressive front and confidently rebuffed every single Charlotte attack.
鈥淚鈥檓 a big fan of the back five鈥檚 performance in their discipline, competitiveness, and synchronization with balls in behind,鈥� said Courtois.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 explain sometimes in a game it鈥檚 not there, they鈥檙e capable and today they showed it. Let鈥檚 see tomorrow.鈥�
UP NEXT
Both teams are back in action on Sept. 18 away from home as Montreal will look to avenge a 5-0 rout against the New England Revolution while Charlotte visits Orlando City SC.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2024.
Elias Grigoriadis, The Canadian Press
