WILMINGTON, North Carolina – FC Montreal lost 2-0 against Wilmington Hammerheads FC, this Sunday afternoon at Legion Stadium.
The Hammerheads quickly took the lead. On a missed pass by defender Jems Geffrard, Qudus Lawal took the ball and dribbled forward, alone in front of goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, and beat him with a low shot on the right in the 6th minute.
The Bleu-blanc-noir got a good chance to level the game in the 26th minute. Maxim Tissot dribbled past a defender on the left flank before sending a cross to the near post for forward Charles Joly, but goalkeeper John Smits blocked his shot.
In the second half, Wilmington added a second goal. On a Michael Mecham cross from the right to the far post, Matthew Barnes-Homer headed home in the 58th minute.
“Overall, it was a poor game,” said head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “The field didn’t allow, on both sides, to play soccer on the ground. At a higher level, you need to be able to play a less beautiful soccer and win. You have to adapt to the conditions and play a less attractive soccer to perform in this game.”
“It was a tough game for the team and for me personally,” admitted defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère. “We made the effort, but it wasn’t working. Our passes didn’t connect. We had to adapt faster to the other team, which had a specific style of play.”
FC Montreal is still looking for its first points of the 2016 USL season with a 0-3-0 record.
Philippe Eullaffroy’s men will play their next game on Saturday, April 23, at 5:05pm EDT against the Rochester Rhinos, at Sahlen’s Stadium.
LINEUPS
FCMTL: Maxime Crépeau; Maxim Tissot, Jems Geffrard, Thomas Meilleur-Giguère (Philippe Lincourt-Joseph 58’), Janouk Charbonneau (Simon Lemire 81’); Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, Marco Dominguez (Heikel Jarras 69’), Yacine Ait Slimane (Fabio Morelli 67’), Louis Béland-Goyette, David Choinière (Aron Mkungilwa 84’); Charles Joly
Subs not used: David Paulmin, Mastanabal Kacher
MLS players
WHFC: John Smits; Michael Mecham, Bruno Perone, Ferrety Sousa (Peabo Doue 64’), Ashani Fairclough; Liam Miller (Jeff Michaud 86’), Justin Moose (Stefan Defregger 86’), Mael Corboz, Josué Currais Prieto; Matthew Barnes-Homer (Logan Miller 79’), Qudus Lawal (Kyle Parker 33’)
GOALS
WHFC: Qudus Lawal 6’
WHFC: Matthew Barnes-Homer 58’
CAUTIONS
FCMTL: Louis Béland-Goyette 30’
WHFC: Josué Currais Prieto 43’
WHFC: Ashani Fairclough 51’
FCMTL: Maxim Tissot 60’
FCMTL: Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé 85’
