MONTREAL, Quebec - FC Montreal lost 1-0 to the Richmond Kickers Saturday, on the synthetic turf at Stade Saputo.
The Kickers scored on a defensive mistake in the 31st minute. Brian Ownby intercepted a pass from defender John Dinkota, before charging down the left flank. Ownby crossed for Matthew Delicate in the penalty box, who beat first team goalkeeper Eric Kronberg.
FC Montreal started the game well. Impact forward Kenny Cooper got the ball outside the box in the 2nd minute, but goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg stopped his shot.
In the 27th minute, winger Fabio Morelli got the ball behind the defenders, before charging to the net. He passed to midfielder Louis Béland-Goyette, alone in the opposite box. The keeper also blocked his shot.
The Bleu-blanc-noir had another excellent chance in the 37th minute when defender Janouk Charbonneau crossed to Impact midfielder Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé. He controlled the ball with his chest before hitting it, but his shot went over the net.
The Kickers came back with a few chances in the second half. In the 55th minute, Brian Ownby passed to Alex Lee alone in front of FC Montreal’s net. Kronberg emerged from his zone to block Lee’s shot.
Richmond attacked again in the 59th minute, but Ownby also saw his shot blocked by Kronberg.
In the last 15 minutes, FC Montreal continued to push forward forward. In the 89th minute, winger Alessandro Riggi passed to forward Frédéric Lajoie-Gravelle, who gave him the ball back right away. Riggi took a low shot, but Spangenberg was in the right place to make the save.
“We have to work on our finishing in front of the net,” explained midfielder Louis Béland-Goyette. “One goal in four games is unacceptable.”
“It’s difficult. When you look at the result, you can’t be satisfied,” said head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “If you look at the quality, there is progress. It’s unfortunate that the guys are not rewarded by a positive result after they showed great things on the field.”
FC Montreal will play its next game on Saturday, May 2, at 4pm, against the Rochester Rhinos, on the synthetic turf at Stade Saputo. Admission is free and the game will be available via streaming at www.impactmontreal.com/fcmontreal.
LINEUPS
FC Montreal : Eric Kronberg; Zachary Sukunda, Mele Temguia, John Dinkota (Zakaria Messoudi63’), Janouk Charbonneau; Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, Eric Alexander; Victor Omar Ndiaye (Frédéric Lajoie-Gravelle 61’), Louis Béland-Goyette (Alessandro Riggi 74’), Fabio Morelli; Kenny Cooper (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 46’)
Richmond Kickers: Trevor Spangenberg; William Yomby, Sascha Gorres (Alex Lee 55’), Jalen Robinson, Braeden Troyer; Luke Mishu, George David IV, Samuel Asante, Fred Owusu Sekyere (Michael Callahan 77’); Brian Ownby (Hugh Roberts 90’), Matthew Delicate (Eli Garner 55’).
GOALS
RIC: Matthew Delicate 31’
CAUTIONS
RIC: Fred Owusu Sekyere 48’
FCM: Eric Alexander 71’
FCM: Mele Temguia 73’
RIC: Brian Ownby 89’
