Jonathan Sirois made four saves for his third clean sheet this season and first this season at home, and CF Montreal halted a four-match losing streak with a 0-0 draw against visiting Nashville SC on Saturday night.
Jules-Anthony Vilsaint came closest to scoring for Montreal (3-7-4, 13 points), which is winless in its past seven games.
But the defense was a major improvement for a side that entered the match having conceded an Eastern Conference-worst 31 goals.
Joe Willis made two stops for his third shutout this season in the second game since manager Gary Smith was fired and assistant Rumbani Munthali took over on an interim basis.
Nashville (3-4-7, 16 points) has drawn both matches since the change, and still has yet to win on the road, but halted a three-match away losing streak.
Both teams’ best first-half chances came from opposition turnovers in their own end.
First, Sirois’ errant pass led to trouble in front of his own goal in the 33rd minute. But defender Joel Waterman made an exceptional retreating clearance off the line to keep out Sam Surridge’s initial effort that followed the giveaway. Gabriele Corbo blocked Jacob Shaffelburg’s secondary attempt.
Five minutes later, Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar was stripped in his own half, leading to a good chance for Vilsaint, who forced Willis to push his shot over the bar.
Vilsaint fired well high on the break early in the second half on a promising break when he might have played the ball left to an open Mathieu Choiniere on the left in the penalty area.
And in the 57th minute, Ariel Lassiter poked a volley high of Willis’ goal after reaching a well-struck cross from the right.
Nashville substitute Teal Bunbury forced Sirois into a reaction save on the right side of the penalty area in the 68th minute.
And in second-half stoppage time, Montreal’s Sunusi Ibrahim shot from the right corner of the penalty area, an effort that forced Willis into a diving stop, but ultimately a comfortable one.
–Field Level Media
