CF Montreal managed to go into Columbus and steal three valuable points after trailing for most of the game and a weather delay.
Joel Waterman plays hero as CF Montreal shocks Columbus Crew
Montreal falters early
With a six-point difference between Montreal and Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference standings, this game was pivotal for CF Montreal to distance themselves at the top of the table currently sitting in third place. Head coach Wilfried Nancy made seven changes to the starting lineup including in goal going back to Sebastien Breza.
Ten minutes into the game neither club was able to get a shot on target as it was turning into a defensive battle between both teams. Columbus opened the scoring four minutes later as Lucas Zelarayan with a shot from the top of the box that went past Breza into the net for the 1-0 lead.
In the 16th minute, the home side looked to double their as their designated player Cucho Hernandez got a shot on a target but this time was denied by a better save from Breza. Things got bad for Montreal in the extra time of the first half as Zachary Brault Guillard seemed to turn his ankle and was helped off the field.
The first half finished with the visitors down by one goal going into the locker room.
A crazy and drama filled second half
Brault Guillard was indeed subbed off at the beginning of the second half for Lassi Lappalainan who started the game on the bench and one of those seven changes made by Nancy from the previous game. In the 52nd minute Columbus came close once again to making it 2-0 but Hernandez shot rang off the post and stayed out.
Nancy made three changes in the 63rd minute bringing on Samuel Piette, Romell Quioto, and Alistair Johnston for Joaquin Torres, Victor Wanyama, and Mathieu Choiniere. Quioto went right to work stealing the ball and going in alone on Eloy Room but the Columbus goalkeeper made his first save of the match.
Nancy made his fourth change in the 70th minute taking out his star player Djordje Mihailovic for Mason Toye looking for that equalizing goal. Five minutes later there was a stoppage in play due to a weather delay and both teams were sent to the locker room.
Then 87 minutes later the teams resumed play under clearer skies and 16 minutes and extra time to go in the game. Quioto tested Room a couple minutes in when he got a great pass but his cross against goal went right into the keepers hands. Hernadez had his third chance of the net when he tested Breza again but once again Breza denied him with another big save.
Kei Kamara finally tied the game in the 89th minute off a brilliant corner as he headed the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-1. Kamara almost scored his second of the game in extra time as he tried once again to head it in but Room was able to make the save.
Joel Waterman moments later played hero as he was able to squeak one by Room with a great kick to make it 2-1 for the visitors. After six minutes of added time the final whistle blew and Montreal had completed the astonishing comeback scoring two goals in five minutes.
Nancy pleased with the win
Head coach Wilfried Nancy was super proud of his team for never giving up and managing to get the win late in the game.
” They trained for this, they worked hard, and we wanted this win because this is the way we are as a team and it worked today and it’s good but I will repeat myself but I am really proud of what they did today because of all the circumstances we had today”.
Joel Waterman still in shock
Joel Waterman still couldn’t believe what had happened in his post game press conference and spoke about the amazing comeback.
” It’s still kind of a blur for me, we knew we only had 15-17 minutes left so with extra time 20 to get out of this game to get points and we kept saying we believe in ourselves and we knew if we scored one we could go and win it and I didn’t imagine in that spectacular fashion”.
Kamara thrilled to get crucial points
” It’s about the characters that we have, it’s tough to play in a game and it gets called off and your forced to sit out and go back into the game while we are down so we had 15 minutes and to be able to find a way to do that it’s massive and when you go into a new stadium you want to make history and I feel like our team made history”.
Tonight’s win was the first for head coach Wilfried Nancy and it will be a quick turnaround for his team as they get set to face Inter Miami back at home on Saturday at Saputo Stadium.
