The CF Montreal players will not return to work until Friday and we can say that they have well deserved their leave.
This international break comes at the right time after a streak of five games in just two weeks which was starting to be tiring.
At times, we saw the more fragile team from the start of the season, which was struggling to play on two fronts in MLS and the Champions League. The Bleu-blanc-noir stumbled against Salt Lake and Nashville, but then recovered to end the streak with two wins.
Offensive
Things were not easy in the last game against Cincinnati, but we will remember the four goals scored and a record equaled.
Yes, since entering MLS, the club have had two seasons (2013 and 2021) in which defenders have scored seven goals.
By moving the ropes, Joel Waterman equaled this mark, which will certainly be beaten perhaps as soon as June 18, the date of the team’s next game.
But what we really remember is that the team is at the top of the Eastern Conference for goals scored with 28. Only Los Angeles FC has scored more, 29.
Already 12 different players have registered for the score this season and there are still about twenty games left. Last year, 16 athletes scored in 34 games.
Among those expected to swell the ranks of the scoring list is Mason Toye, who should be able to return to action after this international break.
Wealth
This offensive variety is the richness of the team, as is its depth, since we regularly see players replacing others during a match and doing just as well, if not better.
We saw it on Saturday when forward Kei Kamara entered at the start of the second half and did not take a minute to offer a perfect pass to Quebecer Mathieu Choinière, who hit the target.
Moreover, Kamara is proving to be a very valuable acquisition on the part of sports director Olivier Renard. At $94,000, the 37-year-old veteran is a bargain with three goals and three assists in 13 games, including only five starts.
His leadership contribution is invaluable and his work ethic seems beyond reproach. You have to look at his defensive commitment to see how much his contribution goes beyond the goals scored.
To correct
Against Cincinnati, however, we saw defensive errors that had been purged from the Montreal game. Avoidable goals, results of an individual error rather than a good piece of opposing play.
Moreover, the Bleu-blanc-noir is second to last in the East for goals against (26) and is just one position higher on the MLS scale.
We must also be concerned about the game of Sebastian Breza, who was anything but reassuring against Cincinnati after a few good games where he seemed more serene.
His raises lack tone, his ball game needs polish, especially when you are a team that builds from the back. In addition, his decision-making is sometimes risky.
The young man must recover, especially since James Pantemis must dream of having a chance to assert himself, he who played against Hamilton in the Canadian Championship on Wednesday, his first game since October.
Mihailovic on the sidelines
In addition, Djordje Mihailovic learned very bad news on Monday. He will not be able to attend the United States National Team camp, as originally announced on May 20.
The 23-year-old midfielder suffered an ankle injury against Cincinnati on Saturday and will be out for the short term.
