CF Montréal Battles to 1-1 Draw Against Nashville SC in Tense Encounter

In a match brimming with early promise and late-game frustrations, CF Montréal settled for a 1-1 draw against Nashville SC at Saputo Stadium on Wednesday night. While a point is a point, the home side will undoubtedly rue missed opportunities to secure all three, especially after playing with a man advantage for a significant portion of the second half.

The evening started with a jolt of excitement for the Montréal faithful.

Just nine minutes into the contest, Nigerian forward Sunusi Ibrahim, showcasing his predatory instincts, expertly finished a chance set up by Mason Toye. The goal ignited the crowd and seemed to set the tone for a dominant performance from Laurent Courtois’s side, fresh off the international break.

However, Nashville, known for their resilience, quickly dampened the celebratory mood.

In the 36th minute, English striker Sam Surridge, latching onto a precise cross from Dru Yearwood, powered home a header to level the score. It was a well-worked goal that exposed a momentary lapse in Montréal’s defense and reset the momentum of the game.

The second half brought heightened drama.

The pivotal moment arrived in the 65th minute when Nashville’s Shaq Moore was initially shown a yellow card for a challenge on Raheem Edwards. Following a VAR review, the referee’s decision was upgraded to a straight red, reducing the visitors to ten men. This presented CF Montréal with a golden opportunity to push for a winning goal against a short-handed opponent.

Despite the numerical advantage and a flurry of offensive endeavors, Montréal found a determined Nashville defense standing firm.

Matías Cóccaro, Lassi Lappalainen, and Bryce Duke all had chances to break the deadlock, but Nashville’s goalkeeper Joe Willis was in inspired form, making six crucial saves throughout the night. Jonathan Sirois, Montréal’s goalkeeper, also had a strong outing with four saves, ensuring the point was secured.

Statistically, CF Montréal dominated possession with 64% and outshot their opponents seven to five on target.

However, the inability to convert that dominance into a decisive goal left a palpable sense of what might have been. The match featured a physical battle, with Nashville committing 18 fouls to Montréal’s 12, reflecting the intensity of the contest.

The draw leaves CF Montréal with a record of four wins, seven losses, and five draws (4-7-5) as they continue their push in the MLS Eastern Conference.

They will look to regroup and build on this point when they next face Real Salt Lake on June 15 at home. While the draw against Nashville wasn't the outright victory fans hoped for, it underscored the team's fighting spirit, even if the final clinical touch remained elusive.