CF Montréal begins to find its form while displaying resilience

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When things are going well for a soccer club, it seems the manager somehow pushes all the right buttons, has the pulse of his team and can do nothing wrong.

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And so it was Saturday afternoon at Saputo Stadium for CF Montréal and second-year head coach Wilfried Nancy. Despite arguably being badly outplayed by Atlanta United, which controlled possession through nearly 62 per cent of the match — and almost 73 per cent in the first half alone — it was the home side that escaped with a 2-1 victory on this sun-splashed day.

This is what happens when everything is seemingly clicking: Kamal Miller, a Canadian international defender, is a force at both ends of the pitch. He scored the opening goal in the game’s fourth minute. And then, when it appeared CFM would be fortunate to escape with a draw, it was Miller who proved to be the architect on the winning goal in the 82nd.

On what can only be described as a superb individual effort, Miller took on two Atlanta defenders before sending a cross into the six-yard box, from where it was conveniently converted by Joaquin Torres, who flicked a header past goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.

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Not only was Torres the first of five second-half substitutions made by Nancy — he entered in the 46th for Ahmed Hamdi — it was incredible someone only 5-foot-5 and 135 pounds managed to elude United’s defenders. Then again, given Torres’ lack of length, perhaps not?

“I still don’t know what really happened,” said Miller, whose first goal this season equaled his 2021 total. “I wanted to make something happen for the team. I was just focused on getting the ball into the box because I know we were hurting them on set pieces and crosses. They weren’t dealing with it too well. I knew if I got the ball into the box something would happen. Luckily, Joaquin was there.

“Right now we’re in a good spot,” Miller added. “We’ve been playing a very good brand of soccer and hurting every team we play. The results weren’t there early in the season. We were struggling with results and chemistry at the back. Now, everything’s falling into place. We’re getting some lucky bounces as well. That’s helping for sure. We’re just finally fully believing in ourselves and taking advantage of the hot streak right now.”

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CF Montréal launched its MLS season with three successive defeats, ostensibly while also being involved in Champions League play, twice having to fly to Mexico. But since being eliminated, the club’s fortunes have drastically altered.

CFM now has gone six games without a defeat, setting a franchise record for the fourth time, while improving its record to 4-3-2. After it appeared the sky would fall on this beleaguered team, it has suddenly climbed into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, although plenty of race track remains in the 34-game schedule. And, while the 18 goals granted this season remains alarming, the Canadian side has allowed only one score in each of its last four matches.

“It’s obvious when we go six games undefeated everything’s going to be great,” said attacking midfielder Djordje Mihailovic. “We just have to keep going. Everybody was worried about the start of our season. I think it was normal that we started that way, with two competitions. We had games every three days in difficult environments.

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“I know a lot of the media was worried, but within the group we were confident this was how it was going to be. We can’t settle even though we have an opportunity in the next few weeks — if we continue this way — we could get on the top of the table in the East. We have to stay grounded, stay focused.”

Mihailovic accomplished what he does best — being CFM’s talisman — on Miller’s goal off a set piece. Awarded a free kick, which Mihailovic always takes, there was some temporary hesitation, appearing initially Hamdi might take the strike. Indeed, he feinted the manoeuvre before Mihailovic delivered the ball into the box, where Miller headed it in off a post.

“I hope it threw them off; that was the plan,” Mihailovic quipped. “It’s about time Kamal put it between the sticks.”

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While CFM is still seeking its first clean sheet this season, there’s no denying goalkeeper Sebastian Breza played his strongest match, especially in the first half, parrying aside numerous dangerous threats when Atlanta United easily could have seized control. Breza, like his teammates of him, struggled through some early-season jitters and inconsistency, but has drastically improved of late.

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