Four games to go in the regular season
CF Montréal continues its road trip with a game north of the border against Toronto FC, this Saturday at 7:30pm at BMO Field. After winning its two first games of the season against their rival, Montreal will try to complete the perfect record against Toronto FC for the first time since they entered MLS in 2012.
There are just four games left to go in the regular season and again, not much has changed in the Eastern Conference. Montreal did manage to jump up a spot into sixth with its draw against Orlando last Wednesday, but that can change in the blink of an eye, with D.C. United and NYCFC sitting just one point back, while the Red Bulls are just two points behind.
“When they control a game, they always have a chance,” explained head coach Wilfried Nancy. “They should have won more games, but when they conceded they let go a little bit. They’re a team with really good players and we’ll do everything to stop them from winning at home. They rested a lot of good players Wednesday, and that’s so they can play us.”
For Montreal, this is a must win for many reasons. Toronto being already eliminated from playoff contention following a very difficult season, these are the types of points Montreal simply can’t afford to lose. Toronto has lost their two last games by a combined score of 5-0, and sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, with only FC Cincinnati below them.
That being said, they’ll be eager to put a dent in the playoff hopes of their biggest rival.
“I do everything I can for this rivalry to exist. New players must understand what it means to take on Toronto,” added Nancy. “On our end, it exists, and on their end as well. My job is to keep that culture going so that new players feel the difference when they’re playing a derby.”
Nancy confirmed in the pregame press conference that striker Romell Quioto will once again be unavailable for this one due to injury, while Ahmed Hamdi may make his return to the group, although nothing has been decided as of yet.
After taking on Toronto, Montreal will switch gears to focus on its game against Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League, in the semi-final of the Canadian Championship, which is set to take place next Wednesday at 7:30pm at Tim Hortons Field.
