MONTREAL, QC – For the second year in a row it came down to the final regular-season game but ultimately CF Montreal misses playoffs as they lost and failed to make the playoffs. CF Montreal was looking to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs when they hosted Orlando City SC at Stade Saputo (Saputo Stadium) on Sunday but ended up losing 2-0 to the visitors. Montreal had beaten Orlando in the three previous times they had met this season so they felt confident heading into the contest.
A tight first half and Montreal thought they scored in the 38-minute when Sunusi Ibrahim manage to get a ball-tipped into the back of the net but the offside flag went up right away and Sunusi couldn’t believe it and it happened again in the 59-minute when Rudy Camacho crossed a ball across the net to Romell Quioto but again the goal was offside. This was pure bad luck for a team that was looking to advance but failed and it didn’t sit well for a club that was hampered with injuries all year long.
CF Montreal: What did Decision Day mean as CF Montreal miss the playoffs?
Les stats contre @OrlandoCitySC.#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/GuyCGK4NNW
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) November 7, 2021
Coaches reaction
“I’m proud of the guys. I wanted my team to play the way they’ve played all season long, whether it was a do-or-die match or not. What we saw this game is what we’ve been putting forward all year. Everyone was underestimating our group. We knew that with the points dropped in the season, things would be difficult. I wish it had ended differently. The players deserved to make the playoffs. But they grew tonight as players. We were close tonight, but we were missing a little extra in the final third. I take my hat off to my players. But we have to use these tough moments to have even more success in the future.”
Sebastien Breza who got the start in goal on Sunday gave the Montreal media a sense of the locker room after the game and the feelings the team felt knowing they had failed and it wasn’t a good one.
“The feeling in the locker room is a combination of anger and disappointment. We wanted to win. But we have another game to play. We need to keep our focus on that. We can talk a lot about the refereeing, but the game is over. Obviously, the season could have gone better. But the reverse can also be said. Today was a must-win game. It is pointless to reflect on previous missed chances. We’ll look back on that after the Canadian Championship. The fans came in big numbers today. They screamed and chanted. Thanks to them we had the momentum. I want to thank everyone who showed up today. It was difficult this season without the fans. But they were always present when we needed them and we’re very grateful to them.”
CF Montreal has one game left to play and it is a big one against its arch-rivals Toronto FC in the 2021 Canadian Championship final where a win will bring home the Voyageurs Cup and a spot in next year’s edition of the Concacaf Champions League.
