And Jonathan Sirois who gets up.
In a difficult evening at the office, CF Montreal must say thank you to its goalkeeper. The Quebecer was imperial against the ferocious attack of Real Salt Lake at the Saputo stadium on Saturday evening, and allowed his club to limit the best team in the West to a 0-0 draw.
The Bleu-blanc-noir was very weak on the ball. And although the return of many injured players, including Matías Cóccaro, helped change the shape of the match in the second half, his lack of success with the leather, in general, was glaring.
Luckily, on the other hand, the jailer had perhaps his best evening of the season. Season in which he had yet to reach the level of his 2023 campaign.
He stood like a wall on no less than six big chances for the Utah men.
His club really needed it. It was more conclusive with the respective entries of Cóccaro, Kwadwo Opoku and Mason Toye, from the 61st. What the CFM lacked, the Uruguayan. Absent since mid-April – he missed 11 matches in all competitions – he demonstrated upon his return all his will and his enthusiasm. Maybe even too much: he received a yellow card two minutes later, after arguing too much in front of the official. Both Opoku and Toye had their chances, but were stopped by RSL’s defense, and their own bad luck.
In the first half, it was easy to see why Real Salt Lake are top of the West. They played skillfully throughout the period.
On the other hand, Montreal had its chances, the best of which came from the foot of Iankov in the 17th. Well served by Duke and Sosa, the midfielder could only send the ball into the arms of goalkeeper Zac MacMath.
Moreover, Montreal played in this half with dangerous excitement in possession, Victor Wanyama overwhelmed in the middle, and a certain inefficiency in the opposing area.
If it is less decimated by injuries today, three of the pillars of the Bleu-blanc-noir are absent due to their assignments with national teams. Ariel Lassiter (Costa Rica), Samuel Piette and Mathieu Choinière (Canada) are at the Copa América for the next few weeks.
Laurent Courtois’ men will be back in action next Wednesday, against the New York Red Bulls, at the Saputo stadium.