In-form CF Montreal looks to continue playoff push, but has had trouble with NYCFC
CF Montreal looks for a fourth-straight Major League Soccer win and more momentum in its playoff push when it visits New York City FC on Wednesday.
After a three-week break due to its elimination from the mid-season Leagues Cup tournament, Montreal (11-12-2) has begun the final push for the post-season with two wins, including just their second on the road this season.
Montreal also entered the break on a winning note with a 2-0 win over Charlotte.
On the other hand, New York (5-10-11) has struggled this season, winning just one of its last 17 regular season games.
However, that win was 1 -0 victory over Montreal at Stade Saputo. NYCFC has had Montreal's number joining MLS in 2015, losing just two of their 18 matchups in all competitions.
"It would be beautiful to keep this momentum and to keep winning games. The one thing you want to do (when you play a team below you in the standings) is to make sure they don't get hope and feel you can catch up," said Montreal head coach Hernan Losada. "They got seven new players during this window, so that's a lot of reinforcements to make sure they are ready for the final push."
Montreal will be looking over its shoulder as the race for the final playoff spots begin to heat up. The six of the team's final nine games are against clubs that are close in the standings.
Montreal controls its destiny and needs only to maintain its positive results to ensure a post-season berth. However, dropping points against chasing teams would narrow the gap Montreal has built during its win streak.
"We naturally look at the table to kind of see where we're at, but it's also important to focus on ourselves and our games," said midfielder Mathieu Choiniere. "As long as we can get into the playoffs and finish as high as possible, that's our only objective."
One of the peculiarities of playing against New York City FC on the road is Yankee Stadium. Montreal is used to the Stade Saputo pitch -- the largest in MLS at 7,700 square metres -- but will now have to adapt to the baseball diamond-turned-soccer pitch that only clocks in at 6,464 square metres, the league's smallest.
Even without having to adjust to a significantly smaller pitch, Montreal's performances away from home have been inconsistent, taking away only eight points from 13 games this season.
"It's a very different challenge and we're going to have to think on our feet a lot quicker. They're used to playing in these tight spaces with a lot of technical quality, so we have a short time to train that and get more comfortable," Losada said. "We know (playing away) is a point to improve and we've been working hard on that for the past three or four weeks. I think you're going to see a better version."
- This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada condemns Iran's strikes on Israel but asks Israel not to retaliate
As war in the Middle East spread Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly 'unequivocally' condemned Iran's move to fire dozens of missiles into Israel but asked the Jewish state not to respond in a bid to avoid further escalation.
Iran fires at least 180 missiles into Israel as regionwide conflict grows
Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday, the latest in a series of escalating attacks in a yearslong conflict between Israel and Iran and its Arab allies that threatens to push the Middle East closer toward a regionwide war.
Trudeau government survives another Conservative-led non-confidence vote
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government survived another Conservative-led non-confidence vote on Tuesday, the second in less than a week. This, the same day the Bloc Quebecois had an opportunity to table a non-confidence motion of its own, opting instead to push the Liberals to support one of its key demands.
Community mourns Ontario man killed in collision with unmarked OPP vehicle
Tributes have started pouring in for a Midland, Ont. man who died after reportedly being struck by an unmarked provincial police vehicle over the weekend.
13-year-old girl charged in deadly stabbing of 7-year-old sister after argument
A 13-year-old girl has been charged with allegedly murdering her s-year-old sister in Taylor over the weekend.
Man 'precariously hanging in some shrubs' rescued off side of B.C. mountain
A small bush on a ledge appears to have "miraculously" saved the life of a climber who fell down the steep slope of a mountain, according to B.C. search and rescue crews.
Small businesses to receive five years' worth of carbon rebates in December
Owners of small and medium-sized businesses will finally receive their long-awaited carbon pricing refunds before the end of this year, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced on Tuesday.
Attorney says 120 accusers allege sexual misconduct against Sean 'Diddy' Combs
An attorney said Tuesday he is representing 120 accusers who have come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs, the hip-hop mogul who is awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
At least 6 dead in suspected terror attack in Tel Aviv
At least six people were killed and nine wounded in a suspected shooting and stabbing terror attack in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Israeli police said.