MONTREAL – FC Montreal won 2-0 over the New York Red Bulls II Wednesday, at Stade Saputo, thanks to two goals from Alessandro Riggi.
Riggi scored twice on counterattacks in the second half. In the 80th minute, Louis Béland-Goyette got the ball in midfield and dribbled into the final third. He pulled the defender towards him before crossing to Riggi in the box. The winger controlled the ball and scored from his left foot.
In the 90th minute, Charles Joly pushed forward on the counterattack. Again, he found Riggi at the second post who scored with his first touch.
“Focus was to keep them on zero goals and that’s what we did,” said Riggi. “Then, we took advantage of the counterattack. We finished when we had our chances.”
The Red Bulls got the best chances in the first half. After goalkeeper Yann-Alexandre Fillion touched the ball with his hands outside the box, Marius Obekop took the free kick and hit the post.
The defence was strong during the game as many crosses were blocked by defenders Zachary Sukunda and Janouk Charbonneau.
“We played a good New York team that plays well on the ball,” said assistant coach Simon Gatti. “They were dangerous. I told the guys that to win the game, we would have to fight. The guys did everything that we asked. We wanted to hit them on the counterattack and we did.”
The next FC Montreal game will be played on Wednesday September 16, at 4pm, on the synthetic field at StadeSaputo, against the Harrisburg City Islanders.
LINEUPS
FC Montreal: Yann-Alexandre Fillion; Zachary Sukunda, Hassoun Camara (Jonathan Grant 46’), Mitchel Bringolf, Janouk Charbonneau; Marco Dominguez, Louis Béland-Goyette (Nevello Yoseke 86’), Fabrice Mbvouvouma(Philippe Lincourt-Joseph 65’), Alessandro Riggi, Fabio Morelli (Samuel Duffek 72’); Jacques Haman (Charles Joly 80’)
Subs not used: Luca Leone, Aron Mkungilwa
Red Bulls II: Santi Castano; Shawn McLaws, Mike Da Fonte, Konrad Plewa, James Thomas (Colin Heffron 72’); Boly Akinyode, Devon Williams, Leo Stolz (Victor Manosalvas 79’); Manolo Sanchez (Dan Bedoya 66’), Stefano Bonomo (Franklin Castellanos 85’), Marius Obekop (Chris Tsonis 68’)
Subs not used: Rafael Diaz, Alex Clay,
CAUTIONS
MTL: Louis Béland-Goyette 9’
MTL: Yann-Alexandre Fillion 35’
MTL: Samuel Duffek 93’
GOALS
MTL: Alessandro Riggi 80’
MTL: Alessandro Riggi 90'
