It is well known, the duels between CF Montreal and Toronto FC always give rise to sparks. On Sunday, the fans gathered at BMO Field were more entitled to a bonfire, as the Montreal team triumphed 4 to 3.
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Emotions, physical play and goals, lots of goals: this is the recipe for a successful derby between two sworn enemies. What’s more, the stakes were high for the visitors, who dealt a blow to the Torontonians in their quest to make the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs.
Wilfried Nancy’s men have once again demonstrated their ineffable persistence on the road after experiencing the worst start to the game imaginable. In doing so, they took their tally to 52 points, eclipsing a team record from 2015 (51).
Trailing by two goals after seven short minutes, CF Montreal readjusted and calmed the game in front of a bewildered Toronto FC to see their lead melt away like snow in the sun.
“She is historic [cette victoire], commented Nancy. I didn’t have time to push them back into the game: they did it themselves. They were keen to show that this is a team (…) that wants to have fun in the game and in the battle.
“It was incredible to come back from behind,” added Alistair Johnston. It felt like the walls were closing in on us and the crowd was very engaged. But we’re a tough team to beat, regardless of the score. We have remained true to our identity.”
Kamal Miller started the ball rolling in the 19th minute by taking advantage of a throwback from Kei Kamara. Maneuvering skillfully at the edge of the penalty area, the Montrealers obsessed the Toronto defense and took advantage of a breach to open their counter.
“It was great,” Miller said of his first hometown goal. It was even better to do it in front of so many friends and family members.”
Man of the big occasions, Kamara was one of the most important architects of the comeback, as much on the offensive level as on that of the effort. According to Nancy, “he ran everywhere to help the team”.
Kamara gave his side the lead just before the end of the first half by winning his duel against Chris Mavinga and slipping the ball between the legs of Alex Bono.
The third top scorer in MLS history was also an accomplice in the winning net. He redirected a perfect cross from Romell Quioto in the direction of Johnston with a header, and the Canadian defender was asking for nothing more to thread the needle.
Before that, Djordje Mihailovic showed his fine form to create the tie. His powerful shot, several strides from the penalty area, gave Bono no chance and silenced the Toronto home.
Minutes from the final whistle, Lorenzo Insigne hit the target for the second time in the match. The Italian international did not even celebrate his success, aware that the outcome of the match was already sealed.
Before finding his ease, the Bleu-Blanc-Noir looked like a tourist on the lawn of Toronto FC.
The Quebecer Samuel Piette particularly struggled in the first minutes. He first opened the door to Toronto’s first net by committing a foul in the penalty area. The video replay sent Federico Bernardeschi to the ‘penalty’ point, and the former Juventus player didn’t miss his chance.
Piette deflected a cross directly at Insigne’s foot two minutes later, and the small forward made it 2-0 with a spectacular volley.
The Repentignois, however, pulled himself together and showed self-sacrifice during the next 83 minutes, fulfilling his role wonderfully by closing the door in the middle of the field with Victor Wanyama.
The stars then aligned for CF Montreal. According to Miller, the adequate preparation of his people and the poor management of the match of the men in red paved the way for a “remontada”.
“The way this league is made, when you’re down 2-0, you can’t rest on your laurels,” Miller said. Even at this stage of the game, the leaders of our team were very positive. We knew we were going to have opportunities to close the gap.
“The more tired Toronto FC got, the stronger we became.”
CF Montreal will return to their home on Friday to welcome the Columbus Crew.