On the brink of achievement, yet still distant
In a physically challenging encounter, CF Montreal fell short against Deportivo Toluca in the League Cup, losing 2-1. The defeat effectively ends Montreal's hopes in the competition.
The match began on a high note for the home team, with Efrain Morales, a new arrival, scoring the opening goal in his first game for CF Montreal. However, Deportivo Toluca responded swiftly, as Paulinho netted a masterful goal in the 26th minute to level the scores.
The second half saw a controversial non-goal for Montreal in the 60th minute. While the details are unclear, it appears a foul was whistled on the action leading to Luca Petrasso's potential goal. Despite their best efforts, Montreal was unable to break the spell and secure a comeback.
Paulinho scored another acrobatic goal in the 71st minute to give Deportivo Toluca a 2-1 lead, a goal that proved to be the decisive one. Prince Owusu came close to equalizing for Montreal in the 61st minute, hitting the post with a good shot, but no goal was scored.
Coach Marco Donadel praised Deportivo Toluca's ability to win and play in different situations, but did not comment on the referee's decision regarding the controversial non-goal. He qualified CF Montreal's performance as "positive", but noted they needed luck to beat such a strong team.
Goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois made seven saves in the match, but could do nothing to stop Paulinho's bicycle kick. Joel Waterman had 22 lost balls and 55% successful passes against Deportivo Toluca.
Looking ahead, CF Montreal is set to play a meaningless match against Puebla next Tuesday in Montreal. Despite the disappointing result, the team showed courage against tough opponents and in difficult conditions.
In the upcoming match, CF Montreal aims to prove their mettle in a regular league game against Puebla, hoping to improve their performance and demonstrate more luck against weaker opponents. Meanwhile, the team's focus on the European leagues, such as the Champions League, might require a strategic shift, with the elimination from the League Cup signaling a need for greater focus on football skills in future competitions.
