MONTREAL – A stoppage-time comeback on Friday night at Stade Saputo clinched CF Montréal’s ticket to the 2022 MLS Cup playoffs following a 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew.
Montreal confirmed its playoff spot in front of a fourth sold-out crowd in the last six games at Stade Saputo.
Back-to-back goals from Jonathan Mensah (66') and Lucas Zelarayán (68') gave the visitors the lead in the second half. However, Montreal closed the gap with a deflected goal from Victor Wanyama (89') and then completed the comeback with an equalizer from Montrealer Zachary Brault-Guillard (90'+4) against a 10-man Columbus squad.
Montreal will be back in action in its second-to-last home match of the season this Tuesday, September 13th when the Club takes on the Chicago Fire at 7:30pm at Stade Saputo (TVA Sports, TSN, BPM Sports, TSN 690).
COMPLETE SUMMARY HERE.
GAME NOTES
-Zachary Brault-Guillard's goal was the eighth scored by a substitute this season, tying an MLS Club record.
-Brault-Guillard also became the third Montreal defender to score three goals for the team this season.
-It was also the 12th goal scored by a defender this year.
-Matko Miljevic and Jojea Kwizera earned their first career MLS assists.
WILFRIED NANCY
“Tonight we played to a draw but the emotion made it feel like a win. I like to say that you have to live the moments. The fans got to live this moment tonight. A match is not played in 60 minutes. My players did not stop. We kept believing that it was possible to come back. I don’t know when or how but there is a positive energy in this group. My players don’t play with their teammates. They play for their teammates.”
JAMES PANTEMIS
“Tonight's result shows our resilience as a team. There is something special about this group. The atmosphere tonight at the stadium was special with section 132 behind me. I hope it's the same in the playoffs. We found a way to get the point tonight.”
ZACHARY BRAULT-GUILLARD
“We're having a huge season. The number of times men off the bench have helped and changed the course of games this year is impressive. The group is doing well. It's just a pleasure to see all the smiles we get every time one of us scores.”
