MONTREAL, QC – CF Montreal scores a revenge 1-0 win over their arch rivals TFC. They did it in front of a packed home crowd at Saputo Stadium. A big reason for that was a late goal from Romell Quioto (the goal was credited as an own goal by Toronto FC’s Lukas MacNaughton).
CF Montreal scores a revenge win at Saputo Stadium
ON AIME ÇA DE MÊME 👌
And it's a win against Toronto!@BMOfr #CFMTL pic.twitter.com/FUW5WNARVU
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) July 17, 2022
A solid first half for Montreal
5’ What an amazing save by #TFCLive goalkeeper, Alex Bono, to keep the game tied! #TorontoFC#MTLvTOR | 0-0 | #MLSpic.twitter.com/Ow04OwlU0i
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) July 17, 2022
Montreal had its first dangerous chance in the fifth minute when Romell Quioto on a two-on-one and made a solid pass to Kei Kamara whose shot went off the post and stayed out. 10 minutes in Montreal looked like the better team controlling most of the possession and getting some great scoring chances.
A bit of a scary moment in the 17-minute as Samuel Piette tried to head the ball on goal and made a collision with Domenico Criscito but he was able to get up under his own power after being checked by the team’s medical staff. Upon being checked for a concussion he was deemed eligible to return to the game.
TFC got their first serious scoring chance in the 22-minute. This was when newly acquired Mark-Anthony Kaye tested James Pantemis who got the start today but Pantemis was able to make a big save. Matko Miljevic had a chance at goal in the 26-minute but Alex Bono TFC goalkeeper made a quick hand save to deny him. Joel Waterman had a chance from distance in the 31-minute but it went right into the hands of Bono was able to make the save. Piette had another chance to score with a powerful shot three minutes later but was again denied by Bono who stuck out his hand to deflect the ball out of danger.
Kosi Thompson had Toronto’s second shot on target of the game in the 45-minute but Pantemis was able to come up with a crucial save late in the first half. The first half finished with both teams deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the locker room.
Romell Quioto plays hero
Montreal in the second half picked up where they left off in the first half looking for that opening goal and seven minutes in it was clear who was on the front foot. Wilfried Nancy made his first two changes in the 60th minute bringing in Djordje Mihailovic and Mason Toye for Miljevic and Kei Kamara.
Alistair Johnston got a shot on target from close in the 63-minute. However, again, it went right into the hands of Bono, who made another save. Quioto had an amazing chance three minutes later with a stunning header on target. His header though was denied by Bono but the offside flag went up.
69’ It was coming as #CFMTL has been pressing all game long! Alistair Johnston delivered a terrific cross and Romell Quioto forces #TFCLive’s Lukas MacNaughton to commit an own goal! #MajorLeagueSoccer #MTLvTOR | 1-0 | #MLS pic.twitter.com/0so6fbSDJc
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) July 17, 2022
Montreal finally scored in the 69-minute when Quioto with another header this time, deflected off TFC’s Lukas MacNaughton and went into the back of the net to give the home side the 1-0 lead. TFC thought they tied it in the 73-minute when Ayo Akinola split the Montreal defence and beat Pantemis but the offside flag went up.
Nancy made his third change of the game in the 80th minute taking out Alistair Johnston for Zachary Brault Guillard. On the ensuing corner, Kamal Miller was shown a second yellow for a foul on Bono and was shown a red card and Montreal was down to 10 men.
Closing moments and CF Montreal wins the game
In the next sequence of play, Toye had a great run up the middle and powered a shot on goal but the ball went off the crossbar and out. Nancy made his fourth change of the game in the 84-minute taking out Quioto for Gabrielle Corbo as Montreal was down a defender.
Pantemis then came up with a big save in the 89-minute off a TFC corner making a diving save to keep the ball out and preserving Montreal’s 1-0 lead. He made another big save in the dying minutes of the game and the final whistle blew after four minutes of added time.
Coach Nancy pleased with the win
Head coach Wilfried Nancy spoke about the key differences between tonight’s match and the one a few weeks back at BMO Field.
“I think we controlled the counter-attack a lot better because in Toronto it was a really good game where we had the ball and a lot of chances but didn’t play well when they attacked and in that transition and today was really good but I feel like we played the same game in Toronto but we conceded goals and tonight we were better”.
Romell Quioto likes a physical game as CF Montreal scores a revenge win
Good to see you back @DjoMihailovic 👋
On est tous très contents de revoir Djordje, n'est-ce pas?#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/afqwClwSfg
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) July 17, 2022
The Montreal striker was asked if he had issues getting bumped and pushed by and says he is fine with a physical game, especially in a rivalry game.
” In a derby game, it’s normal for the game to get aggressive but my job is to bring that physicality and bring energy for my team”.
CF Montreal will be back in action on July 23 as they will travel to Washington to face Wayne Rooney and DC United. The game will be televised nationally in Canada on TSN and TSN5 and in Quebec on TVA Sports. The game will also be shown live on NBCSWA and dcunited.com. Lastly, this was a great win as CF Montreal scores their revenge win over Toronto FC, after getting eliminated in the Canadian Championship semi-finals by TFC and also rebounded from their home loss against Sporting Kansas City.
Photo Credit: CF Montreal on July 16, 2022, seen via Twitter above.
