Union suffer fourth straight defeat for first time since 2017, lose late to CF Montreal 4-2
CF Montreal's Josef Martínez (17) breaks away from Philadelphia Union's Jesus Bueno (20) during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Saturday, June 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Jim Curtin‘s Philadelphia Union had a lot at stake when they crossed the border to challenge CF Montreal. The 14th-place hosts and 11th-place visitors were separated by just one point and the Union had not picked up a single point since a 2-2 home draw with Montreal on June 2nd, almost a full month ago. For 88 minutes it looked like this one had the same fate yet late goals by Dominik Yankov and Ruan propelled the hosts above a Union squad that have now suffered their fourth straight loss. That is something that had not happened since 2017, the last time the Union did not make the playoffs.
The game started out well enough for the Philadelphia eleven, shaped in a flat 4-4-2 with Christopher Donovan and Thai Baribo heading the pressure up top and eighteen-year-old Andrew Rick making his second (and second straight) MLS start in net. Rick needed to come off his line to claim one ball and Josef Martinez soared a bicycle attempt over the net but other than that the Union had relatively consistent pressure in their attacking half the first 20+ minutes.
They almost found their breakthrough around the 25th minute. Jonathan Sirois was able to get a finger on Nathan Harriel‘s low cross, putting the ball off course just enough. Thai Baribo could not sort it out of his feet before George Campbell cleared away and the chance was gone. Harriel’s right boot had more to manufacture though minutes later.
In the 29th minute, again he found himself in space down the right touchline. His scorched cross was to Quinn Sullivan, at the top of the box, whose first left-footed touch bounced up on him slightly. The youngster calmly positioned his body back behind the ball and volleyed his right-footed shot in off the inside of the post for his second goal of the MLS season.
Josef Martinez, making his first start for Montreal since early April, did not wait long to pull his team back into the game in the 36th minute. Off a Montreal corner, Bryce Duke‘s left-foot cross was met at the near post by Martinez. He was able to get up above his mark and delivered a thundering header into the top near corner, Rick with absolutely no chance.
A Philadelphia Union offense without Mikael Uhre, Julian Carranza, and Alejandro Bedoya (Daniel Gazdag also starting this game on the bench) soon saw Jesus Bueno provide a spark, even if off a bit of a fortuitous bounce. Amidst some chaos in Montreal’s defensive half, the ball was nodded down back across their box. Baribo was standing about six yards out from Sirois in an offside position, however he let the ball bounce by him. Bueno was able to beat his defender to the ball at the back post for an easy tap-in goal that was upheld after a lengthy VAR check.
Following the halftime break, it was Montreal’s turn to get a bit of a fortuitous break. It is listed as an own goal on ESPN’s website, however, I thought it was Bryce Duke‘s goal. Duke took a free kick over on the right side. His left-footed ball was swung into the six and Josef Martinez, owner of the first header goal, flashed in front of Rick as the ball arrived. Rick came out and made himself big expecting a flick by Martinez. That flick never came, the ball skipped off the ground between Rick’s legs and we looked like we were in for another 2-2 draw. Dominik Yankov, who was subbed on in the 76th minute for Martinez, soon lathered the home crowd into a frenzy and changed that narrative.
Raheem Edwards made a strong run down the left attacking side and played a ball into Yankov at the top of the 18-yard box. Receiving the ball with his right boot on a partial turn, he popped the ball to the outside of his right boot. Yankov’s quick turn and touch semi-spun Nathan Harriel and he quickly released a shot into the bottom corner to Rick’s right, leaving him frozen in place.
The first minute of stoppage time saw the Union with a chance to salvage a point. They had a free kick from 35 yards out to Sirois’ right. Kai Wagner‘s left foot delivery found Harriel’s head off the back post. His header was spiked into the ground in the box and Jack Elliott was only able to get a slight flick to it with his head before Sunusi Ibrahim cleared away from his own six. Quinn Sullivan was able to chip back in but Sirois claimed easily.
From there, Montreal put the game away as Kwadwo Opoku was set on a run almost half the field. He finally gave the ball off to Lassi Lappalainen on his left. Lappalainen took one touch and whipped a ball with his right leg that went skipping to the back post. Rua just needed to put a foot to it and keep it under the bar. He did just that and, as he did, the Union’s despair just grew deeper.
The Union head from Montreal to the Windy City, Chicago, Illinois, for a midweek matchup with the Chicago Fire on Wednesday at 8:30 pm EST. The Fire currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference though they are just two points back of the Union.
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