ROCHESTER, New York – FC Montreal lost 3-1 Saturday night against the Rochester Rhinos at Rochester Rhinos Stadium.
Montreal scored first, in the first half. On a deep pass from Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, Aron Mkungilwa took a good first touch before shooting over goalkeeper Tomas Gomez for his first professional goal.
The Rhinos replied with two identical goals. Christian Volesky scored on a header from a corner in the 32nd minute. In the second half, in the 49th minute, Steevan Dos Santos also scored on a header from a corner kick.
A few minutes later, Louis Béland-Goyette shot from outside of the box, but hit the woodwork. Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla ran to the ball to push it in, but Gomez stopped it.
In the 79th minute, Rochester added a third goal on a corner. After a header from Volesky, Wal Fall scored on a shot in the right corner.
In the late stages of the game, FC Montreal took a free kick 20 metres away from the goal. Alessandro Riggi shot, but Gomez stopped the ball.
“I think that on the game as a whole, the play was good, with good chances and intelligent possession,” said head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. "The opposing corners cost us the game. On these, it’s all about individual marking, you have to fight. I think the rest was positive.”
“We started the game strong and were confident,” said winger Aron Mkungilwa. “The first 15 minutes were really good, but we let go a bit after the first goal. We need to deal better with the lead.”
The team will play its next game on Saturday, July 30, against the Charlotte Independence at 3pm at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.
LINEUPS
FC Montreal: Maxime Crépeau; Janouk Charbonneau, Brandon Onkony, Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, Zachary Sukunda (Alessandro Riggi 64’); Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, Louis Béland-Goyette (Mastanabal Kacher 84’), Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla, Philippe Lincourt-Joseph, Aron Mkungilwa; Yacine Ait Slimane (Badreddine Boulajoul 84’)
Subs not used: David Paulmin, Heikel Jarras, Nevello Yoseke, Fabrice Mbvouvouma
*MLS players
Rochester: Tomas Gomez; Bradley Kamdem, Joseph Farrell, Kenardo Forbes (Andre Fortune 92’), Ryan Lee James; Michael Garzi, Wal Fall, Dominic Samuel, Sofiane Tergou (Asani Samuels 79’); Christian Volesky (Jordan Becker 89’), Steevan Dos Santos (Brandon Beresford 89’)
Subs not used: Adam Grinwis, Sean Totsch, Michel Guilavogui
GOALS
MTL: Aron Mkungilwa 12’
ROC: Christian Volesky 32’
ROC: Steevan Dos Santos 49’
ROC: Wal Fall 79’
CAUTIONS
ROC: Wal Fall 59’
