CF Montréal fails to make MLS playoffs after bitter home loss

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The clock struck midnight for CF Montréal on Sunday night.

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Playing at home on Decision Day and simply requiring a win against Orlando City, a team they had yet to lose twice this season, to qualify for the Major League Soccer playoffs, CFM failed to deliver and was defeated 2- 0 before a close match. -Multitude of capacity in the Saputo stadium.

Sebas Méndez’s goal in the 55th minute proved to be the difference for Orlando City, which required any sort of result to qualify for the postseason. Daryl Dike added a late insurance score at 86.

While the victory improved Orlando City’s record to 13-9-12, the visitors looked ready for the taking, with just two wins in their last 10 games. In fact, since late June, the team’s road record was a poor 1-6-4.

In addition to that, Nani of Orlando City, with 10 goals and eight assists, was not among the 11 protagonists, although he was available from the bench as a substitute.

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CFM completed his season with a 12-12-10 record and was initially not expected to compete for a playoff spot.

It was an entertaining first half, as both teams had scoring opportunities.

In the 12th minute, with a free kick from outside the area, Mauricio Pereyra, who has 10 assists this season, managed to pass his shot over the wall, something that is not easy from that distance. Sebastian Breza lunged to his left and threw the ball away.

Four minutes later, Sunusi Ibrahim failed to complete a three-way play between Zachary Brault-Guillard and attacking midfielder Djordje Mihailovic. Ibrahim simply had to take advantage of the open network setup, but he lacked the shot.

In the 21st, Joaquín Torres was left alone in the area, only to be rejected by goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, who made a spectacular save with his right leg. Torres clutched his head in disbelief.

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The visitors approached 37, again with another free throw. Robin Jansson’s low shot brushed the outside of the right post and defeated Breza on the play.

CF Montréal appeared to take the lead at 39, when Brault-Guillard mounted Ibrahim, who scored at the back of the net. But the 18-year-old forward was clearly offside on the play.

Knowing his club desperately needed some offense, CFM manager Wilfried Nancy replaced Ibrahim with Honduran forward Romell Quioto to start the second half. Quioto has scored eight goals and six assists this season and played 24 minutes from the bench last Wednesday against Houston after missing four games through injury.

Méndez’s goal was an exquisite effort: a well-hit ball that was hit hard from a distance and curled into the upper-right corner after a turnover from veteran French defender Rudy Camacho. No goalkeeper in the world would have made the save.

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The goal, of course, required CFM to score three in the final 35 minutes. And the team seemed to put one in the 59, when Quioto put his head in the center of Camacho. But after a video review, it was determined that Quioto was inches from offside. An irritated and complaining Nancy received a yellow card moments later.

Camacho was sent off at 79 after a dangerous foul, receiving a direct red card after his sliding tackle caught Dike’s ankle and left CFM with a short man. Camacho’s contract expires on December 31, leaving his future with the team in doubt.

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