Whitecaps forced to settle for 1-1 draw in Montreal

MONTREAL — An 80th-minute equalizer from Matia Coccaro helped CF Montreal secure a 1-1 Major League Soccer tie against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night at Stade Saputo.

Brian White, with his fifth goal in the past three games, opened the scoring for Vancouver (9-7-4), while Coccaro’s tally capped a second-half charge that helped Montreal (5-9-7) to remain undefeated at home. in their last six games.

“Sometimes it seems like guys pick one half where we don’t miss and the other where we pay well, but I’m confident we can apply ourselves and start every half the same way,” Montreal coach Laurent Courtois said. “If we can go into half-time still 0-0 then we’re in a great position to be positive.”

The first chance came for Vancouver on 20 minutes when Fafa Picault found space at the back and sent a nice chip under the crossbar. The flanks would continue to be a problem area defensively for Montreal, leading to the goal on the left.

After a lapse in concentration, Ryan Gauld’s deflected cross found an unmarked white at the far post to give the visitors the lead.

“I think we needed to be closer when we pressed and I personally could have stayed wider to make sure I can stay on Fafa and Lassi (Lappalainen) can stay more in the middle,” defender George Campbell said. “Ultimately, I think we have to press better as a collective, myself included.”

Montreal started the second half with much more attacking intent, hitting the post just two minutes after the restart and generating several high-quality scoring chances, but still lacked the finishing touch.

On several occasions, Montreal’s build-up game would see them find dangerous possession in and around the penalty area, but end up getting nothing out of it due to an extra touch or too much passing.

“There are times when you’re close to the area and you want to make that extra pass, like there’s this concern of settling before you try something, but just getting it into the box causes chaos sometimes,” Courtois said . “We can’t always worry about being perfect.”

With so many numbers committed up front, Montreal were susceptible to the counter-attack as the Whitecaps nearly doubled their lead if not for a desperate goal-line save by defender Ferando Alvarez. That wouldn’t stop Montreal from looking for the equalizer, but it would come shortly after squandering another chance.

After being completed by the goal, substitute Ruan Teixeira was left alone with the goalkeeper but took a touch too many and sent the shot wide. As possession and territory continued, Teixeira finally made up for his miss in the 80th minute by delivering a perfect cross to Coccaro, who headed home his first goal since returning from injury to level the score at 1-1.

The announced attendance was 19,619.

IT FOLLOWS

Whitecaps: Play Pacific FC in a Telus Canadian Championship semifinal game Wednesday in Langford, BC; visit St. Louis City in MLS action next Saturday.

Montreal CF: Host Atlanta United FC next Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 6, 2024.

Elias Grigoriadis, Canadian Press