CFM PUTS ON AN EPIC SHOW
First game at home a thrilling win
Where does one begin on a night like this when trying to put a soccer match into perspective that had a little bit of everything?
There was the ridiculous number of goals, including five by CF Montréal, porous defensive play by the home side and two-goal deficits it was able to overcome. Twice.
On top of everything else, this electrifying and heart-stopping 5-4 victory against FC Cincinnati was produced at Saputo Stadium — the first time CFM has played on its actual home pitch since last Sept. 9 because of COVID-19 and the subsequent border restrictions.
The team had played 28 consecutive matches away from the city, both Harrison, N.J., in 2020, and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., this season serving as the side's home base.
Although attendance was limited to 5,000 spectators for this triumphant homecoming, thousands more undoubtedly will claim they passed through the turnstiles of the east-end facility years from now, saying they witnessed what can only be described as a game for the ages.
Those in attendance gave the home team a standing ovation when it ended.
“Craziest game I've ever been a part of — not even close,” said American striker Mason Toye, one of two CF Montréal players who scored a brace. The latter goal, in the 72nd minute, which narrowed the deficit to 4-3, came on a penalty — the second consecutive game for that.
“The fans were unbelievable,” added Toye, with a team-leading six goals this season. “We were all talking in the locker-room afterwards. It sounded at least like 15,000. I can only imagine, when we have a full stadium, it's going to be electric.”
We'll never know whether this improbable comeback, albeit produced against one of the league's weaker teams, would have been achieved in an empty stadium.
But there can be no denying the crowd, sparse but boisterous, galvanized this group. Two minutes after Toye's penalty, second-half substitute Ahmed Hamdi scored the equalizer on a deflection off the post for his first career Major League Soccer goal.
And then, 13 minutes later, the Egyptian international scored the winner for good measure.
The five goals tied a club record, while the nine combined goals established an MLS mark. CFM has gone six games without a loss, tying a team record, and won its third straight for the first time since it went on a fourmatch run in June and July 2018.
The victory improved its record to 6-3-4; the club remains fourth in the East.
“You'll think I'm crazy, but I loved this game,” said manager Wilfried Nancy. “Yes, we made mistakes, but at halftime I asked the players to continue playing. It's a good story, but the score, as a coach, it's difficult to live with. Still, I'm proud of the players.
“We were soft defensively,” Nancy added. “We made too many mistakes, but the mistakes for me, this isn't an issue. Because of the four goals (allowed), the players maybe found something in their body to be able to score five goals. This is football. This is why I'm doing this job. Yes, for sure, we conceded four goals. We have to be better for sure; don't get me wrong.
We have to be more aggressive. But we scored one goal more than the opponent, so it's OK.”
The performances of Toye and Hamdi notwithstanding, this night might have belonged — from an individual perspective — to Joaquin Torres, who produced a goal and assist in his first start this season.
The 5-foot-5 Argentinian midfielder, 24, was unpredictable and creative, influential from the opening whistle. Only two minutes in, his left-footed strike from distance clanged off the crossbar. And he struck the post in first-half added time. Torres was that close to a hat trick.
Of course, there were also plenty of mistakes made — a giveaway by captain Victor Wanyama on the first Cincinnati goal and a brain cramp by goalkeeper James Pantemis on the second. And CFM continues experiencing difficulties defending set pieces. The goals-against average, stellar at the start of the evening, undoubtedly took a hit.
The warts are there. But, somehow, they don't seem so repugnant when the club wins.