MONTREAL, QC – Thanks to Mathieu Choinière, CF Montreal pulled out a scrappy physical win over Charlotte FC who had 10 men on the Covid protocol list on Saturday night at Saputo Stadium.
Mathieu Choinière stepped up at home in a 2-1 win against Charlotte FC
A physical first half
On prend les devants grâce à @QuiotoSamir.
ZBG 👉 Romell and we have the lead 👊#MTLvCLT | 1-0 | #CFMTL pic.twitter.com/O2ep5HZlEC
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) June 25, 2022
Joaquin Torres got the first shot on target in the third minute. He powered one from outside the box but the Charlotte FC goalkeeper George Marks was able to make the save as the ball went right into his chest. Romell Quioto opened the scoring three minutes later when he got a solid pass from Victor Wanyama and managed to beat Marks with a powerful shot from close range.
The visitors earned a free kick in the eighth minute which Sebastian Breza was able to punch out of danger but Charlotte FC tied the game when Guzman Corujo managed to tip a ball into the net on the following play. 22 minutes later both teams were struggling to create scoring chances going into the hydration break.
The first half finished with both teams tied at one going into the locker room.
Mathieu Choinière plays hero for Montreal
Un impact immédiat de Choinière.
We retake the lead 👊#MTLvCLT | 2-1 | #CFMTL pic.twitter.com/ZZNPUGLkhc
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) June 26, 2022
Head coach Wilfried Nancy started the second half by subbing in Mathieu Choinière and Ismael Kone for Ahmed Hamdi and Lassi Lappalainan who were making his return from the Covid protocol. It didn’t take for Choinière to get involved as off the opening kickoff he got the ball ran up the pitch and beat Marks with a shot that went far post to make it 2-1 for Montreal.
The goal went under review for offside moments later and after review, the ref decided to go to VAR and it was determined the play was onside and a good goal. Montreal earned a free kick in the 60-minute but Torres’s kick went right into the hands of Marks.
Nancy made his third change in the 78-minute bringing on Mason Toye for Joaquin Torres who was making his first appearance in over 10 months due to a clavicle injury. Breza made a big save in the 83-minute off a Charlotte corner when he was able to block a ball with his body to maintain his team’s lead.
Montreal made another change in the 83-minute taking out Romell Quioto for Kei Kamara. Five minutes were added to the 90 and Nancy made a final change subbing out Samuel Piette who looked like he was cramping for Robert Thorkellson.
The final whistle blew and CF Montreal had snapped their two-game losing streak in all competitions. This includes a loss in MLS play to Austin FC and also a defeat in the Canadian Championship to Toronto FC.
Coach reaction
After the game head coach Wilfried Nancy was pleased with the way his team responded after the bad loss in Toronto on Wednesday night.
” We wanted to have the win and I honestly don’t believe in luck so again we needed to provoke them but yes we were a bit lucky but I believe in the positive mindset and they were more proactive and played more on the front foot and that’s why they deserved to get this win”.
Player reaction
ALLEZ 👊#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/JXBRc9rN9k
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) June 26, 2022
Mathieu Choinière, who scored the game-winning goal was able to dissect the play in his post-game media scrum.
” It was a great ball from Quioto and I found myself alone and I drove to the net and I made a quick dribble and shot the ball and it went into the back of the net and it was a great moment”.
CF Montreal will be back in action on Wednesday as they head west to face the Seattle Sounders FC. The game will be shown on TVA Sports and FOX 13+. It will also be shown nationally in Canada on TSN, TSN1, TSN4, and TSN5.
Photo Credit: CF Montreal on June 25, 2022.
