MONTREAL — CF Montreal’s search for its first Major League Soccer win continues as Mikael Uhre’s late goal lifted the Philadelphia Union to a 2-1 victory at Stade Saputo on Saturday night.
The same issue that has plagued Montreal all season resurfaced once again, as a chronic lack of composure and decisiveness in front of goal left several chances unconverted.
Despite scoring their first goal at home this season, Montreal’s (0-8-3) standing as the team with the worst goal-converting rate in the league only worsened.
However, head coach Marco Donadel refuses to see the glass as half empty, focusing instead on the quality exhibited in the other aspects of the match.
“I don’t need to say anything, they know what we are doing and what we’re showing on the field. They are aware that the performance is there,” said Donadel who admitted after the game that he was found it difficult to explain his team’s finishing.
“I’m happy for the performance, I’m happy with the improvements, and I’m happy that the group understands and is talking with positive words and positive energy.”
Indiana Vassilev added Philadelphia's (7-3-1) other goal while Giacomo Vrioni scored for Montreal.
It took Philadelphia just 73 seconds to open the scoring with a slick counterattack that rapidly cut through the host's right side. Vassilev capped it off with a shot into the top right corner that overpowered Jonathan Sirois’ outstretched hand.
In every game except two this season, Montreal has conceded the first. The other two games ended in a scoreless draw.
Montreal’s best opportunity of the half came when a cross from Tom Pearce was deflected on goal by Francis Westfield and through Andre Blake’s legs. However, a slight deflection of Blake’s right foot sent the ball skimming by the post and out.
For the first time since Donadel’s appointment as interim head coach, he lined up his squad with two pure strikers in a 4-4-2 formation. This paid dividends on a number of occasions as the constant pressure put on the back line allowed more space to exploit.
“We knew with the way Philadelphia played that we would be able to move forward quickly with two strikers,” said Nathan Saliba. “It helped during the buildup play, I feel like we could’ve found them right away.
" … When the ball is out wide with someone like Pearce who has a good cross, it’s definitely interesting.”
With the final kick of the first half, Montreal finally found the equalizer. A low cross from Dante Sealy sowed chaos in the penalty area and — after several defensive errors — fell to Vrioni, who was alone in front of goal and made no mistake. This was the first goal Vrioni scored for the club in front of his entire family, including his newborn son who is just three-weeks-old.
“It was beautiful honestly, it’s the best thing that can happen in your life,” said Vrioni. “He still doesn’t understand it, but hopefully very soon.”
Montreal carried that momentum into the second half, immediately forcing Philadelphia into a defensive block with Sealy acting as the main catalyst on the right wing. Along with the entire crowd, he believed that he had won a penalty in the 77th minute, but after the Video Assistant Referee recommended a review of the play, it was determined the call would be upheld and no penalty awarded.
However, Philadelphia would find a winner in the 84th minute against the run of play. Uhre found space in behind the Montreal central defenders and got on the end of a perfect pass from Jovan Lukic, making no mistake as he slipped the ball past Sirois.
UP NEXT
Philadelphia: Hosts Indy Eleven on Wednesday in first round of the U.S. Open Cup.
Montreal: Visit New York City FC on Saturday, May 10.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2025.
Elias Grigoriadis, The Canadian Press
