MONTREAL – FC Montreal lost 2-1 against Toronto FC II in a rivalry game Saturday night at the Olympic Stadium.
The first half ended 0-0 after both teams had their chances to score. In the 36th minute, winger Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla cut from the right wing to the centre before passing to midfielder Mastanabal Kacher in front of the box. His shot was blocked by the opposing defender.
In the second half, Malik Johnson dribbled from the centre of the field to Montreal’s goal before getting past goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau and pushing the ball into an empty net in the 62nd minute to open the score.
On a counterattack, Tabla passed to forward Charles Joly who quickly passed the ball back into the winger’s run. Alone against the keeper, Tabla dribbled past him and also scored in an empty net in the 80th minute.
But TFC II came back to attack straightaway. In the 84th minute, Reds forward Raheem Edwards beat defender Kyle Fisher before shooting high past the Montreal goalkeeper to make it 2-1.
“Collectively, it was difficult,” said Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla. “We created some chances without finishing them. We play with some Toronto players in the national team, but when it’s Toronto-Montreal, we are enemies. We need to fight for the three points.”
“We had the impression that we could have won this game,” said head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “We lost on two individual feats on their part. Defensively, we were a little bit naive on both goals. The positive aspect is that, offensively, we were more interesting, which is good compared to the last game. Again, we need to remember to have more of a killer instinct with the ball.”
FC Montreal’s next game will be played on Sunday, April 17, at 3pm, against the Wilmington Hammerheads FC at Legion Stadium.
LINEUPS
FC Montreal: Maxime Crépeau; Aron Mkungilwa (Fabrice Mbvouvouma 87’), Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, Kyle Fisher, Janouk Charbonneau; Louis Béland-Goyette (Heikel Jarras 68’), Marco Dominguez (Nevello Yoseke 82’), Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla, Mastanabal Kacher (Charles Joly 69’), Yacine Ait Slimane (David Choinière 55’); Michael Salazar.
Subs not used: David Paulmin, Simon Lemire
*MLS players
Toronto FC II: Alex Bono; Mitchell Taintor, Skylar Thomas, Anthony Osorio, Bubacarr Jobe (Malik Johnson 61’); Sal Bernal (Wesley Charpie 61’), Adam Bouchard, Brian James (Robert Boskovic 87’), Aidan Daniels (Liam Fraser 66’); Raheem Edwards, Shaan Hundal (Martin Davis 71’)
Subs not used: Filippo Di Bennardo
GOALS
TFCII: Malik Johnson 62’
FCMTL: Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla 80’
TFCII: Raheem Edwards 84’
CAUTIONS
FCMTL: Louis Béland-Goyette 38’
TFCII: Aidan Daniels
FCMTL: Kyle Fisher 73’
TFCII: Anthony Osorio 77’
FCMTL: David Choinière 90’
