MONTREAL – FC Montreal tied 0-0 against the defending USL champions, the Rochester Rhinos, Tuesday afternoon, at the Olympic Stadium, in its penultimate preparation game for the 2016 USL season.
There were few chances on both sides in the first half. In the 45th minute, midfielder Mastanabal Kacher shot from outside the box, but the ball went over the bar.
In the beginning of the second half, the Rhinos’ forward had a good chance, coming from the left towards the goal, but his shot was blocked by defender Janouk Charbonneau.
A few minutes later, a quick passing play between Kacher and Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla brought them in the box on the right side, but the opposing goalkeeper came out of his net to block Tabla’s shot.
“I’m happy with the team’s performance,” said midfielder Marco Dominguez. “We see that all the players are on the same page. In the last third, we need to take more shots. It will help us win games.”
It’s the fourth consecutive game without giving a goal in the team’s preparation for the season.
“We know that we’ve been good defensively for a while now,” said head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “Unfortunately, offensively, it also confirms that we have trouble finishing. We have to be better in the last 25 metres with our passing selection. But we played the defending champions and, had we been at that level last year, we would have had a better season. It shows that progress was made.”
FC Montreal will end its preparation on Saturday, March 19, at 2pm, against the Ottawa Fury (NASL), at the Olympic Stadium. The club’s second team will then start its second USL season on Friday, March 25, at 7pm, at the Olympic Stadium, facing Bethlehem Steel FC.
LINEUP
FC Montreal starting XI: David Paulmin; Janouk Charbonneau (Simon Lemire 72’), Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, Jems Geffrard (Fabrice Mbvouvouma 57’), Zachary Sukunda (Aron Mkungilwa 57’); Marco Dominguez (Nevello Yoseke 61’), Louis Béland-Goyette (Heikel Jarras 72’), Fabio Morelli (Samuel Duffek 72’), Mastanabal Kacher (Philippe Lincourt-Joseph 72’), Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla; Jacques Haman (Charles Joly 66’)
Subs not used : Luca Leone
