CF Montreal snaps goalscoring drought, beats Charlotte
Striker Kwadwo Opoku scored his first objective for his new membership and snapped a four-game shutout streak as CF Montreal beat Charlotte FC 2-0 on Saturday evening.
Opoku’s objective within the twenty seventh minute was Montreal’s first in 451 minutes, bringing a relieved Stade Saputo crowd to its ft after having little to cheer for lately amid the Major League Soccer membership’s goalscoring woes.
The 22-year-old from Ghana was making his first begin at dwelling since Montreal acquired him in a commerce with Los Angeles FC 10 days in the past.
Montreal (9-12-2), which entered the match having been shut out in 12 of its final 22 matches, received for the primary time since June 21 in opposition to Nashville SC heading right into a month-long break.
Charlotte (6-9-8) is winless in its final eight league video games.
Both golf equipment started the night tied with 26 factors, simply exterior the Eastern Conference playoff image, and play within the Leagues Cup — a World Cup-style event between MLS and Liga MX groups — subsequent week.
Opoku and Chinonso Offor, Montreal’s different objective scorer, scored two minutes aside within the first half as the house aspect took management of the match early.
Montreal had the primary Grade A scoring likelihood of the sport 4 minutes in. Wingback Ariel Lassiter and midfielder Bryce Duke linked on a give-and-go play alongside the left wing, resulting in a low Lassiter shot that compelled Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina to stretch out and make a save.
Defender Jan Sobocinski had Charlotte’s finest scoring likelihood within the twenty fifth minute with a point-blank volley within the field after a poor clearance from Montreal defender Joel Waterman, however fully misfired vast of the online.
Opoku broke the impasse by ending a robust buildup play from Montreal. Wingback Aaron Herrera performed a wonderfully weighted via ball into the field for Duke, who fed a low cross towards the online that led to a scramble, and Opoku was on the doorstep to put the ball dwelling.
Moments later, Waterman performed an extended cross over Charlotte’s again line to Offor, who corralled a bouncing ball as Kahlina watched and fired it into the again of the online.
Montreal stored dominating the sport within the second half as Charlotte didn’t generate probabilities and misplaced its defensive construction.
Striker Jules-Anthony Vilsaint, who got here on for Opoku within the 63rd minute, had an try saved within the 69th minute. Duke then missed the online on a golden alternative to make it 3-0 off an Offor feed on the counterattack.
Montreal continued producing probabilities on the break and had little bother holding any hazard away from Sirois within the remaining 20 minutes, resulting in Montreal ‘keeper Jonathan Sirois’ ninth MLS clear sheet of the season.
In the tip, Montreal had 14 shot makes an attempt to Charlotte’s six.
PIETTE’S 131st
Canadian midfielder Samuel Piette, again from a thigh harm and carrying the captain’s armband, began his first league match since April 1 and his 131st for Montreal all-time within the MLS, surpassing former winger Ignacio Piatti for essentially the most by a area participant in membership historical past.
UP NEXT
Montreal takes on Mexican membership Pumas within the Leagues Cup subsequent Saturday, with its subsequent MLS recreation scheduled for Aug. 20 on the highway in opposition to Toronto FC.
Charlotte additionally returns to MLS motion on Aug. 20 in opposition to the Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami FC. It performs FC Dallas to open the Leagues Cup on Friday.
