CF Montreal was looking for the first time in its history to win all the regular-season games against Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday and came close to securing three points, but couldn’t get the job done.
A competitive first half
Three minutes into the game, the visitors recorded the first scoring opportunity as Zachary Brault Guilard ran up the flank but his shot hit the side netting. Ten minutes later it was Ibrahim Sunusi with another great scoring chance but his shot went off a Toronto defender and out.
James Pantemis made his first big save of the game in the 20th minute on Jacob Shaffelburg when he made a slide and was able to get the ball. Rudy Camacho cleared the ball out of danger and five minutes later made another key save denying Shaffelburg.
Pantemis came up huge again in the 34th minute when Toronto was awarded a free-kick. Pantemis was able to make another key save on Micheal Bradley with an amazing diving save. Both teams went into halftime with the score tied at 0-0.
Stats après le match 👇#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/dhik0PyjuW
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) October 24, 2021
Montreal comes close but can’t finish
Montreal scored the first goal of the game at the 55th minute, 10 minutes into the second half. Brault Guilard took a shot from distance and Sunusi tapped the rebound into the net to give his team the 1-0 lead. In the 67 minute, Pantemis made another brilliant save, this time on Jozy Altidore as Toronto was pressing hard.
Four minutes later off a corner Altidore had another chance to tie the game but again Pantemis was there to deny him the opportunity. In the 73rd minute, Pantemis denied Richie Lareya with another big save and was keeping his team in the game.
Djordje Mihailovic had a great opportunity in the 76th minute to put the match away when he got a great pass from Joaquin Torres and found himself in front. However, Toronto goalkeeper Quentin Westberg made the save. In the 78th minute, it was Pantemis again with an amazing save on a shot from Auro Jr.
In the 90th minute, Montreal had another chance to put the game out of reach. Substitute Bjorn Johnsen found himself alone on Westberg but his shot sailed wide missing the net. Four minutes of time was added and Pantemis denied Altidore who fired a quick shot.
On the final play of the game, Toronto was awarded a free-kick and Altidore managed to get a shot past Pantemis on the last kick of the game to deny Montreal the win and three valuable points. Montreal, with their third-straight draw, now finds themselves in 8th place.
71' QUEL ARRÊT JAMES PANTEMIS.
Pantemis gets an arm out to keep Altidore's header out. #TORvMTL | 0-1 | #CFMTL pic.twitter.com/0vkwlKU6WM
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) October 24, 2021
CF Montreal Coach reaction
After the game in his post-game press conference head coach Wilfred Nancy spoke about coming so close but not being able to get the job done.
“I am disappointed first of all for the players and it was the third game in a row and they were brave until the last 10 seconds of the game and yes we struggled a bit because Toronto have good players but we had good opportunities to score a second goal and we didn’t and we had opportunities to manage it a bit better the end of the game and we conceded a free-kick at the end and for sure it is frustrating and in terms of results we had the opportunity to win but we didn’t do it and again we didn’t win because we didn’t do the right thing on the pitch to avoid it.”
Next match for CF Montreal
CF Montreal has three games remaining on their schedule with one on the road and two at home. They will next travel to New York to battle the Red Bulls on Saturday at Red Bull Arena.
