FC Cincinnati, a Montreal club trying to bounce back

(Photo credit: Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Saturday's CF Montreal vs. CF Cincinnati: Redemption won't take long to headline.

Both sides had disappointing results in their last match on April 6. FC Montreal lost 5-0 in Seattle, while FC Cincinnati dropped a 2-1 home decision to the New York Red Bulls.

“I'm not happy with how we played,” FC Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said. “We lose games. The discussion revolved around what it would be like to not get results … it didn't look like a good version of our team.”

FC Cincinnati (3-1-3, 12 points) dropped to fifth in the Eastern Conference after conceding a second-half goal for the first time since May 2023. They were outshot 10-8 and managed only four shots on goal after three. Yuya Kubo's header in the third minute.

“We have to be able to do our thing and play our way,” captain Leonardo Acosta said.

CF Montreal (2-3-1, 7 points) has lost three matches in a row and has a home game to look forward to. Defense has been a real problem of late, as Montreal has allowed 10 goals in their losing streak.

The team played the final 37 minutes and halftime in Seattle without Nathan Saliba, who received a red card early in the season.

“Disappointment beyond the result,” Montreal coach Laurent Courtois said of the loss. “We lacked competitiveness, solidarity and humility. We need to confirm our intentions with concrete action on the pitch, but we didn't do that.”

CF Montreal was outshot 20-5, including 12-2 in shots on goal. It was not the result his coach and players wanted at the end of a long journey.

“We had some good results early in the season,” midfielder Joel Waterman said. “There is no excuse for a long journey. It is up to us to give motivation to every match and take it with us.”

–Field level media