MONTREAL — CF Montreal wants to avoid a little déjà vu on Saturday.
As the Major League Soccer playoff race heats up, Montreal is riding a three-game unbeaten run and is favoured to win when the last-place San Jose Earthquakes visit Saputo Stadium. But Laurent Courtois's men were also expected to prevail a month ago when they hosted the New England Revolution, the Eastern Conference bottom-dwellers, in a demoralizing 5-0 loss.
"Paradoxically, it's against scenarios like this that we haven't been good this year, even though we’ve managed to perform against very important teams in the league,” Courtois said Friday from CF Montreal’s training facility. “We'll really focus on that point, remind ourselves of what's important and say watch out, there's a lot of quality in this team and they have nothing to lose.In a season of ups and downs, Montreal is 10th in the Eastern Conference with 34 points, two behind the playoff line with four games remaining in the regular season. Toronto FC occupy eighth place but have played one more game than Montreal, while Philadelphia Union hold the final wild-card berth in ninth.A 4-1 road loss to Cincinnati FC on Aug. 31 followed the 5-0 defeat to New England, but Montreal has since triumphed in two convincing home wins and a comeback draw on the road from Sept. 14-21 to jump back into the post-season picture. “Being able to bounce back like the guys did after the setbacks we've faced is very strong,” Courtois said."Sometimes we do surprising and disappointing things, even though it's all within our reach, and sometimes they really impress me with their resilience, quality and competitive spirit.Tom Pearce, an English left back who joined Montreal from Wigan Athletic in July, said team discussions after those losses sparked the turnaround. "We got together as a group and staff and just had an honest conversation, like we need to turn things around, we need to get the confidence back, start enjoying football again,” he said. “Since that I think we've done well in the games, and training has been better and confidence is higher. “We just got from the staff that belief that, keep up playing our way and we keep doing well, then fingers crossed we make the playoffs." San Jose is by far the bottom team in the league with 18 points, 10 below second-worst New England. The Earthquakes enter Saturday’s match without a victory in their last four outings A win is especially crucial considering Montreal’s upcoming schedule. After Saturday, the team plays at Atlanta on Wednesday and at Charlotte FC — who rank sixth in the East — next Saturday. The regular season ends on Oct. 19 at home against New York City FC, who are seventh in the conference. “Coming to an end of a season and having a playoff push, I guess being in a streak now is crucial,” midfielder Bryce Duke said."It gives us momentum going into those last four games that we have, and then, in the end, get into playoffs.” After experimenting with his starting 11 much of the year, Courtois has found a lineup he’s confident playing down the final stretch. Defenders Fernando Alvarez, Gabriele Corbo and George Campbell are consistently starting as a back three, striker Josef Martinez is the first choice up top and Canadians Samuel Piette and Nathan Saliba are holding down central midfield. Then there’s the new attacking midfield partnership of Duke and Caden Clark that has helped Montreal score six goals in three games."Not going in with the mentality that it's going to be an easy game, because I think we've all seen within this league that any team can beat any team,” he said. “Anything can happen, but just go in, realize we're at home, attack, attack, attack, try to get goals and come out with the three points and keep moving forward."Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
Please follow us on Google to support us Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Canada’s transport minister to meet with Via Rail after passengers stranded 10 hoursThe delay was caused when train broke down between Quebec City and Montreal on Saturday
Read more »
'It's not an easy game': Vancouver Whitecaps cautious of lowly San Jose EarthquakesVANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps aren't taking anything for granted as they prepare for their next matchup. Sure, the 'Caps (12-8-6) come in undefeated in their last three games across all competitions (2-0-1).
Read more »
Vancouver Whitecaps cautious of lowly San Jose EarthquakesThe Whitecaps are undefeated in their last three games
Read more »
Vancouver Whitecaps cautious of lowly San Jose EarthquakesVancouver Whitecaps host last-place San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
Read more »
CF Montreal look to avoid upset as league-worst San Jose visits amid playoff chaseMONTREAL — CF Montreal wants to avoid a little déjà vu on Saturday.
Read more »
CF Montreal look to avoid upset as league-worst San Jose visits amid playoff chaseMONTREAL — CF Montreal wants to avoid a little déjà vu on Saturday.
Read more »