CF Montreal have an opportunity to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2016 as they welcome the reigning MLS Cup champions, New York City FC, to Saputo Stadium for a playoff encounter on Sunday.
The Canadian side have not lost a game since the start of September, scoring twice in the second half to defeat Orlando City 2-0 in the opening round, while the Boys in Blue are on a five-game winning streak in all competitions after blanking Inter Miami 3-0 last weekend.
Match preview
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Persevering in the face of adversity was the message by Wilfried Nancy to his team last Sunday in what was the first home playoff game for Montreal since 2016.
Their two goals in the second half last Sunday was the first time in four games that they had found the back of the net in the final 45 minutes.
As sharp as they have been on the road this season, winning a league-high 11 games, home field has been good to them in the postseason with Montreal, winning all five of their playoff fixtures which took place at Saputo Stadium.
Defensively, they have looked much stingier at home in recent outings, posting back-to-back clean sheets and failing to allow a single shot on target against the Lions in the opening round of the playoffs.
Throughout the 34-game regular season, Montreal were the second-highest scoring team in the Eastern Conference (63 goals), but historically versus NYCFC, they have found it difficult to break them down, scoring a goal or fewer in 13 of the 15 encounters against them.
Montreal have scored first in five straight contests, though they have dropped three matches this year when tallying the opening goal.
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NYCFC seem to be back in business, extending their home unbeaten run versus MLS opponents to four games with a convincing victory against the Herons.
Nick Cushing saw his team fire nine shots on target a week ago in what was a total team effort from start to finish, qualifying for the conference semi-finals for the second successive campaign.
The Pigeons have won their last three road playoff games by the thinnest of margins, defeating the New England Revolution and Portland Timbers on penalties last year, while a late goal in the 2022 Eastern Conference Final sent them into the MLS Cup final.
Historically they have only suffered two defeats against Montreal, although American teams have not fared well when visiting their neighbours to the North in the postseason, as only two US-based sides have won the 12 MLS postseason matches played in Canada.
New York only lost two league contests all season when scoring multiple goals, while they have not won a match played in Canada since beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the 2019 regular season.
The Boys in Blue have scored a goal or fewer in three of their previous four road fixtures, having been shut out against the New England Revolution (3-0) and Charlotte FC (1-0) last month.
Team News
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Djordje Mihailovic recorded a goal and an assist last week, becoming only the fourth Montreal player to reach that feat, as only Ignacio Piatti (15) and Patrice Bernier (six) have done that more often, while James Pantemis made his first career playoff start, collecting a clean sheet.
Pantemis was one of seven players who made their postseason debut last weekend for this team, with the others being Samuel Piette, Lassi Lappalainen, Joel Waterman, Victor Wanyama, Mathieu Choiniere and Ismael Kone, who had the winning goal.
Ahmed Hamdy remains out with a sore right leg, Tomas Giraldo has a foot injury, while Kone and Kei Kamara are a caution away from potentially sitting out of the next encounter.
Gabriel Pereira and Heber have scored a goal in each of the last two games for NYCFC, with the other strike coming courtesy of Maxi Moralez against Miami, while Sean Johnson collected his third career playoff shutout.
Anton Tinnerholm started for the first time since late August, playing the full 90 minutes on Monday, with former Miami winger Matias Pellegrini featuring for the first time since early October as he replaced Santiago Rodriguez in the final few seconds.
Nicolas Acevedo is one caution away from being suspended, Talles Magno missed their last match with a problem in his upper body, while Tayvon Gray and Alfredo Morales were both scratches because of lower body injuries.
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Pantemis; Waterman, Camacho, Miller; Johnston, Piette, Wanyama, Kone, Brault-Guillard; Mihailovic, Kamara
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Tinnerholm, Martins, Chanot, Callens; Acevedo, Moralez; Pereira, Rodriguez, O'Toole; Heber
We say: CF Montreal 1-0 New York City FC
There is an excellent case to be made for either side to win this encounter, but we are going with the home team because they have been more consistent all season long and appear to be healthier, which at this time of year could tip the scales in their favour.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
