CF Montreal and the Chicago Fire played to a goalless draw on Saturday evening at Stade Saputo, tightening the Eastern Conference playoff race in Major League Soccer. Despite having several chances throughout the match, Montreal was unable to find the back of the net against Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady.
Montreal’s lack of goals has been a consistent issue throughout the season and could be the main reason they may miss out on a playoff spot. They currently have one of the worst goal ratios in the league. However, head coach Hernan Losada remains optimistic about the team’s performance.
Losada said, This isn’t frustrating for me, if anything it feels good. The hardest thing about football is creating opportunities and being dominant, which we were. We need to continuously work and improve; we just have to stick together. Unfortunately, it wasn’t there tonight, but I’m proud of the performance from start to finish.
Montreal had their first chance just 20 seconds into the game, but Zachary Brault-Guillard’s chip went wide. The chances continued to pile on as George Campbell hit the crossbar at the 23-minute mark. However, Chicago showed composure and slowed down the game, preventing Montreal from finding a breakthrough in the first half.
In the second half, Montreal came out with a similar energy and immediately put pressure on the Chicago defense. But once again, Chicago was successful in slowing down the game. Montreal made a late substitution, bringing on forward Romell Quioto, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury for 125 days. Quioto’s return seemed to reinvigorate the players and the crowd, but Montreal couldn’t convert their chances.
With a mix-up from Chicago’s defense in the penalty area, Bryce Duke had an open goal opportunity, but the shot was deflected wide. In the 90th minute, a cross from Duke found Mathieu Choinière, but Brady made another incredible save to deny Montreal the victory.
The draw marked goalkeeper Sirois’ 11th clean sheet, breaking the club record set by Evan Bush in the 2018 season. Sirois credited the achievement to the team’s collective effort and expressed pride in their performance.
Both CF Montreal and the Chicago Fire will now turn their attention to mid-week games. Montreal will host league-leader FC Cincinnati, while Chicago will travel to Columbus to face the Crew.
In conclusion, the goalless draw between CF Montreal and the Chicago Fire has tightened the race for the final postseason spots in the Eastern Conference. Montreal’s struggles in front of goal continue to be a concern, but head coach Hernan Losada remains positive about the team’s performance. The draw keeps both teams in their current playoff positions and sets the stage for upcoming crucial matches.
