Late Winner Sinks CF Montreal Despite Another Promising Showing

MONTREAL – The Philadelphia Union

escaped with a narrow 2-1 win over CF Montreal

at Stade Saputo on Saturday night, extending the host’s winless run to start the 2025 MLS

season.

Philadelphia opened the scoring in just the second minute of play, with Indiana Vassilev firing a shot into the top corner on the counter-attack for his first goal with the Union.

Montreal controlled momentum for the rest of the half, looking promising going forward and creating a number of chances, with the final pass or shot letting them down in the final third.

Their breakthrough finally came via the left boot of designated player Giacomo Vrioni just before halftime, tucking home a point-blank opportunity in his first MLS start for the club after arriving from the New England Revolution

over the offseason.

Montreal seemed the most likely of the sides to grab the lead in the second half, controlling possession and creating scoring opportunities through inspired wing-play by Dante Sealy and Tom Pearce.

It would be the Union, however, that would break the deadlock in the 84th minute thanks to substitute Mikael Uhre, who snuck in behind Montreal’s defense and dispatched a shot past Jonathan Sirois for the eventual game-winning goal.

Montreal was unable to breakdown Philly’s defense as the clock ticked down, suffering their eighth defeat in 11 contests.

CF Montreal vs Philadelphia Union – Game Stats
CF Montreal	Category	Philadelphia Union
57.6%	Possession %	42.4%
3	Shots on goal	4
82.3%	Passing accuracy %	73.6%
6	Corners	2
1.9	Expected goals	0.7

CF Montreal vs Philadelphia Union – Game Stats

CF Montreal

Category

Philadelphia Union

57.6%

Possession %

42.4%

Shots on goal

82.3%

Passing accuracy %

73.6%

Corners

1.9

Expected goals

0.7

Montreal remains stuck in last place in the Eastern Conference on three points, still looking for their first MLS win of the campaign.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, jumped to second place in the East with the win on 22 points, two behind leaders Columbus Crew.

Montreal Looks Threatening With Two-Striker Formation

CF Montreal interim coach Marco Donadel was able to deploy a two-striker formation on Saturday night, starting two winter acquisitions in Vrioni and Prince Owusu up top.

While the pair are still working to create some chemistry and learning to play together, it’s clear their presence put more stress on the Union’s backline, opening up avenues for Montreal to get additional players in and around the box.

“We were able to play quick with the two strikers, and it made it easier to get to the second balls,” midfielder Nathan Saliba told reporters after loss. “But I think we could’ve done a better job getting them some delivery.”

Vrioni looked rusty in his first start for Montreal, looking tired and uncomfortable on the ball, having struggled for fitness since his arrival. He scored a wonderful scissor-kick goal against Toronto FC in the first round of the Canadian Championship in midweek, but it’s clear he’ll need more minutes to get back to top form.

The Albanian international was happy to get on the scoresheet, celebrating his return to fitness while thanking the club’s medical staff for their help in his recovery.

“It was beautiful, scoring in front of my family,” Vrioni said postgame. “I wanted to say thank you to the medical and athletic staff of CF Montreal, they took care of me every single day, which is not easy.”

Vrioni’s strike partner, Owusu, had an evening to forget, often hesitating with the ball at his feet in dangerous areas. Vrioni had some words of encouragement for his teammate, who has only two goals in 11 starts this season.

“This is the life of a striker. There are moments where you touch the ball with your big toe and it goes in, and there are times where you miss chances,” Vrioni said. “If you work hard every single day, and if you do the right things, your output on the field will double; this is what I try to remind myself every day.”

Montreal Let Down by Controversial Penalty Call

Montreal were confident they were going to be awarded a penalty shot with about 10 minutes to play, when Dante Sealy seemed to be tripped in the box.

Referee Marcos de Oliveira did not call a penalty on the play, but was called to the monitor by VAR to review the decision. After several minutes at the monitor, de Oliveira stood by his call, much to the chagrin of the crowd and the Montreal dugout.

“It’s the first time I see VAR intervene in a penalty situation, and the penalty isn’t called,” Donadel told reporters on Saturday night. “I think it’s a penalty, 100 percent. But I’m a coach, not a referee.”