Joseph Martinez, Montreal bounces back from a tough loss to beat Cincinnati

(Photo credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports)

Joseph Martinez scored and assisted the game-winner on Saturday night as CF Montreal celebrated its first home game by holding off Cincinnati FC 2-1.

The Eastern Conference rivals were tied 1-1 in the 62nd minute when CF Montreal suddenly came back from behind. Martinez sent Ariel Lassiter down the left wing, and Lassiter made a great shot from the top of the left box, deflecting a shot past Alec Cann that was only 7 percent on goal.

Montreal CF (3-3-1, 10 points) held off the visitors in the final 28 minutes and overtime to end a three-game losing streak. It was the second straight loss for FC Cincinnati (3-2-3, 12 points), 17-8.

However, FC Cincinnati showed great consistency to tie the match in the 58th minute. Luciano Acosta played the ball brilliantly into Yuya Kubo's center and he tapped Jonathan Siruis' right-footed shot home for his second goal in as many matches.

But that was it for Cincinnati FC's dangerous attacks. After Kubo's goal, Montreal FC ended their six-game road trip in Seattle in a 5-0 loss on April 6.

Montreal Soccer Club's players and coaches promised a more detailed, concrete effort than they showed in Seattle, and they delivered. They led for most of the first half but were unable to turn that advantage into any dangerous chances until Martinez came on for the injured Matias Coccaro in the 26th minute.

Martinez put the first marker on the board in the fourth minute of the first half. Receiving a pass from Raheem Edwards, Martinez spun around in the box and fired a left-footed shot past a diving Cann into the right corner of the net to give Montreal the lead at halftime.

–Field level media