Montreal trips Charlotte to get back in MLS win column

MONTREAL — Bouncing back after a loss to your closest rival in the semifinals of a tournament is no small feat. It’s even harder when your next game is only three days later, but that’s exactly the situation CF Montreal found themselves in on Saturday.

Montreal managed to pull it off, getting back into the Major League Soccer win column after beating Charlotte FC 2-1 at Saputo Stadium and claiming second place in the Eastern Conference in the process.

Romell Quioto and Mathieu Choinière scored for Montreal (8-6-2), while Guzman Corujo was Charlotte’s (6-9-2) lone goal scorer.

“The whole team was more proactive and played on the front foot and that’s why they deserved to get this win,” said head coach Wilfried Nancy. “This is the way we play, and this is the way I want to see my team. I don’t like it at all when we are passive, so we need to provoke things.”

Montreal has made a habit of starting games at home incredibly strong and today was no different, dominating the ball and forcing Charlotte back constantly.

It took Montreal only seven minutes to break the deadlock. Their first shot from Quioto’s found the bottom right corner, giving the hosts the lead.

“I always try and bring this quality to the team, a goal and an assist made the difference but the most important thing is the three points,” said Quioto, who has shouldered more of the offensive responsibility with MVP candidate Djordje Mihailovic sidelined for another month.

“There are some big shoes to fill with Djordje missing, but that’s something that’s done as a team. We’re a deep squad and that’s how we’re going to find success,” Quioto added.

It only took Charlotte three minutes to respond when a defensive mishap led to a simple tap in from a few feet out for