CF Montreal came ready to play and delivered with a 4-1 rout against a high-flying Timbers side who now need to wait for two weeks to clinch a postseason spot against the Houston Dynamo at home.
Tonight’s match that became a reality check for Portland as well manager Miles Joseph looking to get a win in the city of Mary against what looked as a revived CF Montreal.
Coming to this game, Montreal (12-16-5, 41 points) seven-match winless streak (0-4-3). Somehow, Les Bleus dominated as they got their first win since August 26. For Portland, this defeat ends its seven-match unbeaten streak..
In the match, CF Montreal benefited from an erratic Timbers defensive backfield that allowed the hosts all sorts of liberties in both halves.
For Montréal, it started with a number of opportunities, but Timbers keeper David Bingham sorted the hosts’ attack denying them in the 13th minute when Sunusi Ibrahim’s header of a corner went wide. After seven minutes passed by, Kwadwo Opoku got a pass from Ibrahim in the 18-yard box, but Opoku was denied by a rushing Santiago Moreno getting to the ball first.
The Rose City side had their share of opportunities such as in the 25th minute, when Antony crossed a pass to his left side to Felipe Mora but the ball was saved by an opportunistic Jonathan Sirois.
Montreal got in the lead early in the game thanks to Sunusu Ibrahim in the 28th minute, when Opoku served the ball inside the box as Ibrahim just pushed the ball for the game first score.
The second score came in the 35th minute when Ibrahim this time served to a wide open Opoku and putting the shot on the mark to make it a 2-0 contest. Mathieu Choniere made it 3-0 form outside the 18-yard box in the 64th minute and Mason Toye got the fourth at the edge of the goal to extend the lead for Montreal in the 76th minute.
Still, Portland via Dairon Aspirilla in the 50th minute had an opportunity to score but seeing his shot go wide, and later Larrys Mabiala missing in the 61st saw his shot go wide inside the six yards.
In the 86th minute, ithe Timbers scored via a combination between Yimmi Chara and Franck Boli scoring the consolation goal when a pass from the younger Chara found Boli’s foot to break the clean sheet for Montreal keeper Jonathan Sirois.
Goals
Sunusi Ibrahim 28’ CFM, Kwadwo Opoko 35’ CFM, Mathiew Choiniere 64’ CFM, Mason Toye 76’ CFM, Franck Boli 86’ PTFC
Man of the Match
Franck Boli
Portland Timbers
Montreal Impact