MONTREAL – FC Montreal lost 3-1 against the Ottawa Fury (NASL), this Saturday afternoon at the Olympic Stadium, in its last preparation game before the start of the 2016 USL season.
The Fury scored first, early in the game. In the third minute, Ottawa midfielder James Bailey got the ball in the box after a clearance from the Montreal defence. He scored with a shot in the bottom right corner.
FC Montreal tied the game in the 29th minute. After a through pass, defender Janouk Charbonneau dribbled towards the goal before passing in the centre of the box for midfielder Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, who concluded the move with a goal.
In the second half, Fury forward Carl Haworth anticipated a back pass to the keeper by Fabrice Mbvouvouma, intercepted it and, alone against the goalkeeper, scored with a low shot in the 57th minute.
In the 87th minute, Haworth found himself alone in front of goal again after a deep pass. He beat goalkeeper James Pantemis with a shot in the bottom left corner.
“There were defensive mistakes that we fixed during the game, but we should be ready for the opening game of the season on Friday,” said defender Janouk Charbonneau. “Overall, I think this was still a good game.”
“We were in difficult situations, but it’s mostly good news because we faced problems that we haven’t had to deal with over the last months against a good Ottawa Fury team,” said head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “What’s positive is that, although we had our difficulties, we didn’t lose the momentum of the game, we stayed solid and consistent.”
FC Montreal ends its nine-game preparation with a 5-2-2 record.
The team will start its second USL season on Friday, March 25, at 7pm, at the Olympic Stadium, against Bethlehem Steel FC.
LINEUP
FCMTL: James Pantemis (Charles Desrochers [U18] 87’); Janouk Charbonneau (Simon Lemire 69’), Fabrice Mbvouvouma, Jems Geffrard (Kyle Fisher* 61’), Zachary Sukunda (Aron Mkungilwa 69’); Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé* (Nevello Yoseke 61’), Louis Béland-Goyette (Heikel Jarras 76’), Fabio Morelli (Samuel Duffek 79’), Mastanabal Kacher (Philippe Lincourt-Joseph 61’), Michael Salazar, Charles Joly (Yacine Ait Slimane 50’)
MLS players
GOALS
OTT: James Bailey 3’
FCMTL: Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé 29’
OTT: Carl Haworth 57’
OTT: Carl Haworth 87’
