Montreal looking for first MLS win
CF Montréal returns to MLS action, this Saturday at 1pm, when it will take on the defending champion New York City FC at Yankee Stadium in their third MLS regular-season game of the year (TVA Sports, 91,9 Sports, TSN 690).
Both teams will be looking for their first win of the season, after going winless in their two opening games.
New York City FC is one of the four MLS teams, alongside CF Montréal, taking part in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals. Head coach Ronny Deila’s men were able to take a 3-1 lead heading into the second leg over Guatemalan side Communicaciones, while CF Montréal heads back to Montreal with a 1-0 deficit to make up over Cruz Azul. Tickets for the second leg on March 16 are on sale here.
“They’re a good team, said head coach Wilfried Nancy. “They were champions and they deserved to be. The field at Yankee Stadium, it’s small and narrow, which is ideal for teams that like to press. It won’t be easy, but we’re ready to face this challenge head on.”
Head coach Wilfried Nancy will have the difficult task of finding the right line-up to take on NYCFC this Saturday. The Club is in the middle of a busy stretch with five games in the spam of two weeks, while also dealing with a fair share of injuries early this season.
Romell Quioto, who served a one-game suspension last week against the Philadelphia Union, will be available for the head coach.
The busy schedule means a lot of the squad’s younger players are seeing some playing time, including Icelandic defender Robert Thorklelsson, who played his first minutes with CF Montréal, last Wednesday against Cruz Azul.
“It was nice to finally get back on the pitch,” said defender Robert Thorklesson. “It had been about 10 months since my last competitive game. I felt good and it was just nice get out there.”
Following the return leg against Cruz Azul, Montreal will play three consecutive MLS games on the road against Atlanta United, FC Cincinnati and New York Red Bulls respectively, before making their grand return to Stade Saputo on Saturday, April 16, at 3pm against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
