Desperation in Montreal: Union Search for First Points

Desperation time. Philadelphia heads north to Montreal to take on fellow bottom-table dwellers CF Montreal. While the Union continues to add onto their worst start in history, can they find their first points against a struggling Montreal side?

CF Montreal Look to Capitalize on Union’s Struggles

Things have seemingly gone from bad to worse in CF Montreal’s camp. The club has a single win this season against the New York Red Bulls. However, the remainder of Montreal’s season remains bleak. The club conceded a club-record 14 goals in their first five matches and nine goals in their last three.

Thankfully for the hosts, they face a team that has yet to win a match this season. CFMTL tends to play well against Philly at home, winning nine of their last 14 matches against the U at Stadium Saputo. Surprisingly enough, this will also be Montreal’s home opener after six matches into the season. Unfortunately, the Boys in Blue are unbeaten against the side in their last three matches by a combined 6-1 scoreline.

No match is an “easy win” for Philadelphia this season, and Marco Donadel’s squad should be viewed similarly. The Bleu-blanc-noir have talent, especially with Frankie Amaya joining on loan from Deportivo Toluca.

With Spanish winger Iván Jaime and Venezuelan Wiki Carmona, who has three goals, Montreal’s midfield should be the key to defeating Philadelphia.

Additionally, the presence of a battle-tested forward in Prince Owusu makes CFMTL even more dangerous. Owusu already has four goals this season, and with a struggling Union back four, a breakout between the cracks of the line could be decisive for a team looking for its second victory of the season.

A familiar face also found his way into Montreal’s last eleven. Philadelphia homegrown Brandon Craig, who had a stint at El Paso Locomotive FC prior to joining Montreal, found himself at center back with Efraín Morales in a 3-0 loss to the New England Revolution last weekend.

Keys to Success

As for any team that faces Philadelphia, control in the midfield seems to be the best way to break down the reigning Supporters’ Shield Champions. The Union can not seem to figure out their back line, and with a forward as hot as Prince Owusu, finding the gaps he can work into could lead to keeping the winless Union without a point this season.

​Philadelphia Union Still Searching for Answers

A second-half team? Maybe? The Philadelphia Union showed some life last weekend. After what seemed like more of the same in the first 45, it was the second half that gave Philly fans about 30 seconds of hope.

After a lifeline on a Danley Jean-Jacques goal and Cavan Sullivan assist, it took less than five minutes for Charlotte FC to reclaim the lead to hand the Union their sixth loss of the season.

Defensively, Philly can not seem to find their form. Last weekend’s starting eleven looked to be the one that will likely stick for the season. It remains the best lineup that Bradley Carnell can piece together at the moment. However, when looking at conceding goals, the culprit does not fall where most would think.

The Union’s midfield sits as a blatant piece of concern for this team going forward, and it hurts the team on both sides of the ball. Defensively, meaningless turnovers, lack of tracking back, and not picking up runners brewed a brutal spell of mishaps that resulted in goals against.

These midfield lapses, combined with a back line still looking for proper organization, provide all sorts of issues for a team looking for its first points of the season.

Carnell’s side should keep a very similar eleven to the squad of last weekend. As a fan, all eyes should be on the midfield play of Jovan Lukic, Danley Jean-Jacuques, and Milan Iloski. If the three of them can combine and control the run of play, it could take enough stress off the strikers to create some offense.

​​Keys to Success

Things are becoming desperate in the Philadelphia camp. Carnell needs a result today to try to set things on the right track. It is important to note that while the form does not show it, the Union has lost five of its six matches by one goal. A loss would be devastating for a club that cannot seem to find the quality of performance and luck to turn some close ties around this season.