CF Montréal keeps their MLS playoff hopes alive with 2-0 win over Dynamo

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There were some tense moments along the way, but CF Montreal’s quest for a spot in the Major League Soccer playoffs lives on.

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Second-half goals from a pair of CFM defenders, French veteran Rudy Camacho and Canadian international Kamal Miller, led the team to a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night at Saputo Stadium. .

Camacho’s third goal of the season opened the scoring in the 58th minute before Miller produced his first MLS goal at 62. Sebastian Breza posted a clean sheet, CFM’s first since September 19.

While CF Montréal controls their own destiny in their quest for the postseason, they had to defeat the lowly Dynamo or they would have been eliminated. The club passed its first test, but now must also win its final regular season game against Orlando City at home on Sunday.

CFM has yet to lose this season to Orlando City, winning 4-2 and drawing 1-1. Both games were played away from home.

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CF Montréal ended a four-game winless streak with victory, improving their record to 12-11-10, although they still remain below the playoff line, eighth in the Eastern Conference.

The Dynamo, meanwhile, are twelfth in the Western Conference and saw their record drop to 6-16-12. It was Houston’s fourth straight loss and marked the 10th time this season that it has failed to score in a game. The Dynamo is still without a win on the road (0-11-6).

It was the first meeting between the two teams since March 9, 2019, and CFM’s dominance was evident from kick-off.

In the seventh minute, Mathieu Choinière fired a low shot from an acute angle across the ground that was easily stopped by goalkeeper Kyle Morton. Choinière’s goal in the 23rd was much higher. This time, his low shot from afar was deflected from the left post.

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Six minutes later, Choinière mounted Dorde Mihailovic. His shot, from the penalty spot, was blocked by Alejandro Fuenmayor.

In the 32nd, Mihailovic directed a low shot from distance that did not miss much.

The locals continued attacking, but were missing shots in the last third.

At 35, Joaquín Torres, showing quick movement, fired a high shot from outside the area. Again, it didn’t miss much. A minute later, Dynamo’s Ariel Lassiter had one of his club’s few offensive forays, but his feeble attempt was easily stopped by Breza.

In 39, Sunusi Ibrahim’s rebound attempt went straight into Morton’s arms. CF Montréal directed 13 shots at Morton during the first half, including three on target.

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Despite the desperation that was evident in the CFM, it was the visitors who were the most invigorated team after the intermission. Houston controlled the first 10 minutes and forced Breza to make a pair of saves.

In ’50, Lassiter shot from afar. Breza had to be sharp to corner the attempt. Seconds later, at a Lassiter corner, Griffin Dorsey’s header went wide. That was quickly followed by a low shot from Memo Rodríguez. Breza stood out again in the play.

But then, just as quickly, the momentum changed and CF Montréal broke through, scoring both of their goals in a span of four minutes.

The first goal started with a corner from Mihailovic. Morton stopped Fuenmayor’s header, his teammate, before Camacho, with his back to the net, scored with the back of his right heel.

Miller then put his head in the corner of another Mihailovic, providing CFM with the most important safe target.

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