CF Montreal look to continue their revival by maintaining their dominance in the “Canadian Classique” when they host reeling FC Toronto on Saturday in a rematch after defeating them on Tuesday.
Montreal knocked off host Toronto 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Championship on goals by Zachary Brault-Guillard and Chinonso Offor in the 35th and 39th minutes, respectively. Lorenzo Insigne scored for Toronto in the 44th minute.
“When you play on the road for the Cup against your biggest rival, it’s never easy,” Montreal coach Hernan Losada said. “But I think we did a very good collective performance and I’m very, very happy for the whole group, for the staff, for the players, for everyone who works hard for CF Montreal.”
In MLS play, CF Montreal (4-6-0, 12 points) has won its past three MLS games following a 2-0 victory over the visiting Orlando City last Saturday. They are the first team in MLS history to earn fewer than five points from their first seven games before winning their next three matches.
However, Montreal’s six losses are tied with Inter Miami CF for the most in the Eastern Conference, while its nine goals are second fewest in the conference, two more than the last-place New York Red Bulls.
Montreal has fared much better when it faces Toronto FC (2-3-6, 12 points). Montreal is 4-0-1 in the past five MLS meetings between the teams, which include a 4-3 win in Toronto and a 1-0 win at home last season.
Toronto hasn’t beaten their Canadian neighbors in an MLS game since a 2-1 win in September 2020, though it did post a 4-0 win in the semifinals of the Canadian Championship last season.
FC Toronto has dropped two of its past three MLS games after a 2-0 setback to Eastern Conference-leading New England last Saturday. Toronto’s two wins are tied with the Chicago Fire for second fewest in the conference, just one more than the New York Red Bulls. Toronto is 0-5-3 in its last eight road games.
Against the Revolution last weekend, Toronto fell behind 1-0 on Bobby Wood’s goal in the 19th minute before DeJuan Jones’ tally in the 62nd minute capped the scoring for New England.
“Frustrating. A slow start. A mistake to get behind,” Toronto coach Bob Bradley said. “And then in too many cases, a team that was frustrated, trying to find a way to get back into the game.
“You could see the frustration on the field. Against a good team, that’s hard.”
–Field Level Media
