CF Montreal: not an easy match in sight

CF Montreal makes one last lap at home on Saturday night before going to end the regular season in Florida next Sunday.

In a game that is dedicated to fans, the Bleu-Blanc-Noir hosts DC United, a team that has been excluded from the playoffs for a long time.

In fact, the US National Capital team has the worst defense in the MLS Eastern Conference with 65 goals against. Only the San Jose Earthquakes have done worse this season with 67 goals against.

And it does not stop there since it is also the worst attack in MLS with 34 goals scored in 32 games. And as if that weren’t enough, Greek striker Taxi Fountas won’t be in the game as he is under investigation for alleged racist remarks he made against Damion Lowe from Inter Miami.

We cannot say that the return of Wayne Rooney to Washington is done in happiness for the moment. After all, he won his first game on July 31 and had to wait until September 1 to relish another victory. Otherwise, he suffered seven losses and three draws.

« I don’t care if they’re last, they’re going to play liberated, » said Wilfried Nancy on Thursday, taking care to excuse his vocabulary.

The Montreal boss believes that his counterpart is laying the foundations on which he will build his team in the 2023 season.

“They are building something very interesting. They are preparing for next year, the coach is putting things in place to save time.

An absentee

We will highlight the return of Lassi Lappalainen as left piston, he who has recovered from his thigh injury. The team will however play without Djordje Mihailovic who will serve a one-game suspension for accumulating yellow cards.

The team played well without him during his injury, but he has been out of action since his return in mid-July. He had just one goal and one assist in 12 games, compared to seven goals and four assists in as many games before his injury.

As the effort is there, Nancy does not worry too much and believes that he will find his elite player when the playoffs begin.

“Djordje has gotten us used to giving each other little candies. He will be ready for Miami and for the playoffs and I am honestly not worried. He finds his races and there is no particular concern about the execution.

On a roll

On the side of CF Montreal, it would be tempting to ease off a little during the last two games of the season since second place in the East is acquired.

But since there are mathematical chances of climbing to first place, and because we want to arrive in the playoffs in the best state of mind possible, there is no question of slacking off.

“It is of great importance to continue playing to win the last two games of the season in order to start the playoffs with the best possible momentum,” insisted Joaquin Torres Thursday.