MLS | CF Montreal lose to Inter Miami CF

CF Montreal suffered a third loss in a row, losing 2-1 to Inter Miami CF on Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium.

Facing a one-goal decline after the first half, Inter Miami (3-8-3), the team with the worst record in MLS, beat CF Montreal for the first time in their history thanks to two goals from Gonzalo Higuaín in the second half.

It was Inter Miami’s first win since May 16, and their first at home in 2021, in their eighth game of the season.

Joaquín Torres had allowed CF Montreal to take the lead during the 20^e minute. Wilfried Nancy’s men have also missed many chances to score, especially Mason Toye, who alone has let three quality go by.

Despite this loss, CF Montreal (6-6-4) retains seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings – the last to give access to the playoffs – one point ahead of DC United, which was limited to a draw. 0-0 against FC Cincinnati.

The Montreal team will play their next game Wednesday night against Atlanta United in a Saputo stadium that could accommodate up to 15,000 spectators. This meeting will conclude the first half of the CF Montreal season.

Excellent start

Powered by dynamic play during the first quarter of an hour of play, CF Montreal players had a solid start to the game.

They even came very close to opening the scoring in the third minute of play when Toye deflected a beautiful cross from Zachary Brault-Guillard just to the right of the opposing net.

The Montreal team redeemed itself when Torres, titular in a fourth game in a row, scored his second goal of the season, following a cross from Mathieu Choinière.

It was the first time since the July 3 meeting against Inter Miami CF that the Montreal side had scored the first goal in a game.

Moreover, if the game of CF Montreal had been impeccable during the first quarter of an hour of play, it was a little more messy during the last 15 minutes of the half.

The Florida team, which started the game with only 10 goals scored, was able to chip away at the advantage that CF Montreal had forged in terms of possession of the ball. However, she was unable to tie the game until the end of the half.

But it was only a matter of time before Inter Miami managed to score a first goal against CF Montreal in 2021. He came in the 49^e minute, on a penalty from Higuaín, after his brother Federico was caught by Zorhan Bassong in the penalty area.

It was Miami’s first goal against the Montreal team in 286 minutes of play, since October 17, 2020.

This streak seemed to revive the troops of Wilfried Nancy, who had three good chances to score between the 55^e and the 60^e minute. Each time, the ball missed the target.

Then, against all odds, Higuaín broke the tie at the 69^e minute when his left-footed shot was partially blocked by Pantemis before leaping into the net.

A turnaround by defender Rudy Camacho at the edge of the penalty area led to this decisive goal from which CF Montreal did not recover.