MLS

CF Montreal v Charlotte FC: Courtois has Gervais backing despite poor run

By Sports Desk September 12, 2024

Laurent Courtois retains the backing of CF Montreal president Gabriel Gervais despite a miserable run of form hampering their playoff hopes ahead of Saturday's clash with Charlotte FC.

Montreal sit 13th in the Eastern Conference standings, five points adrift of the wild-card spots with seven games of the regular season remaining.

They were trounced 4-1 at FC Cincinnati prior to the international break, having suffered a humiliating 5-0 home loss to Inter Miami just one week earlier. 

Despite those results, Gervais remains convinced Courtois is the right man to oversee Montreal's push for the postseason.

"The expectations are the same and we want to get to the playoffs. I'm optimistic and I believe in it, but it's up to the coach and the players to find solutions," Gervais said.

"The last two performances have been unacceptable. Especially the 5-0 defeat at home. Personally, I haven't digested it as a director, as a former player and as a fan. 

"Laurent is a young head coach and there are a lot of things to work on, but I believe in him. I'm not one to panic or have an impulsive reaction."

Charlotte, meanwhile, sit sixth in the East and look good for a playoff spot in their first campaign under Dean Smith.

Former Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood has been one of their key performers this term, and he penned a new two-year contract with the club earlier this week.

"Life in Charlotte has been an incredible experience for me and my family, and I'm extremely happy to re-sign with the club," Westwood said. 

"I joined Charlotte FC at a very rough point following a serious injury, and it's been a breath of fresh air that has truly revitalised my career. 

"We know we can reach greater heights, and I'm excited to continue leading this group."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CF Montreal – Josef Martinez 

Five of Montreal's last seven regular-season goals have been scored by substitutes. 

Montreal have seen an MLS-high 12 goals scored by substitutes this season, including Martinez with a joint-league high four goals off the bench.

Charlotte FC – Karol Swiderski 

Two of Charlotte's last three goals have been scored from the penalty spot, with Swiderski netting both. 

Swiderski has a perfect six-from-six record from the penalty spot in his MLS career, one of six players to take at least six penalties over the last three seasons and convert all of them.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Montreal have gone unbeaten through their four all-time meetings with Charlotte (three wins, one draw). Montreal are the only team Charlotte have faced more than twice in regular-season MLS play without recording at least one win.

However, Saturday's hosts have lost five of their last six matches in all competitions (one win) after only losing two of their previous 11 dating back to late May (three wins, six draws).

Charlotte, meanwhile, have avoided defeat in five of their last six regular-season road games, winning three and drawing two. It would be no surprise to see the spoils shared.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

CF Montreal – 35.5% 

Charlotte FC – 38.5%

Draw – 26.1%

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    "That was quite a shock, of course," he told NOS. "You see someone lying down, you see someone shaking. That is quite scary. But thankfully, at a certain point, it became clear that he was stable. I hope he is doing well and that he recovers quickly.

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    "We have no injuries from the game and our counter-pressing was extraordinarily good," Nagelsmann said after the game. 

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  • Glenmuir outclass STETHS 5-2 to maintain daCosta Cup dominance; McGrath, Garvey Maceo, Ocho Rios also into semis Glenmuir outclass STETHS 5-2 to maintain daCosta Cup dominance; McGrath, Garvey Maceo, Ocho Rios also into semis

    Glenmuir High continued their dominant march in the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup with an emphatic 5-2 victory over St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in their final Group A quarterfinal match on Saturday.

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    The win saw Glenmuir finish atop the group with maximum nine points, five points ahead of McGrath High, who blanked Frome Technical 4-0 to also book a semi-final berth. They finished ahead of STETHS on goal difference after both ended on four points each.

    Glenmuir’s Head coach, Andrew Peart, was again pleased with how his team went about business.

    “Every game you play, you try not to concede but we can live with it. We were 4-0 up when we conceded so we can work on those. I thought today was one of the displays that you’re really proud of; at the start we weren’t really in control but we managed to settle and play our game and score some goals so again, I am really proud of them,” Peart said in a post-game interview.

    Though a bit slow out the blocks, Glenmuir quickly gathered momentum and broke the deadlock inside 15 minutes when Miller capitalized on a perfectly weighted cross from Tajaun Cummings, rising above defenders to power a header into the net.

    STETHS had a chance to respond shortly after but Deandre Barnett’s header struck the upright.

    That was all STETHS would get at that point as Glenmuir extended their lead two minutes past the half-hour mark with a goal that showcased their set-piece prowess. A weighted corner kick from O’Neil Headly was cleverly flicked on by Dusting Cohen, allowing Nicely to tap in at the far post.

    Watson added his name to the scoresheet just before halftime, when he slotted into an empty net after STETHS’ goalkeeper Johnoi Steadman advanced and failed to get a hand on Okeem Saunders’ perfectly measured cross. caused confusion in the STETHS defense, with misjudging the delivery as Glenmuir went 3-0 up at the interval. 

    Glenmuir maintained their attacking intensity at the restart, with Watson again proving troublesome.

    In the 67th, Saunders once again played provider, delivering a precise pass that Watson controlled expertly before unleashing a powerful drive from the edge of the box. With that, his second goal of the game, Watson took his tally to 31 for the season, a testament to his exceptional form.

    Despite trailing by four goals, STETHS showed resilience in the final 10 minutes. McPherson pulled one back in the 80th minute, finishing from close range to bring the home crowd to life.

    Just three minutes later, McPherson turned provider, delivering a pinpoint cross that Stewart headed home for his fifth goal of the season.

    However, Glenmuir had the final say as Binns found himself unmarked in the penalty area and easily headed home a perfectly floated cross from Cohen to complete the rout. It was Binns’ seventh goal of the season and a fitting end to a commanding performance.

    STETHS’ Head coach Omar Wedderburn and his troops will now have to look to the Ben Francis Cup for redemption.

    “We weren’t focused enough in the first half and three goals scored from the service. We tried to make some adjustments in the second half but it barely bore fruit but that’s how it is; it is a hard one to digest and we just have to do what we have to do,” he noted.

    Saturday’s Results

    Glenmuir 5, STETHS 2

    McGrath 4, Frome Technical 0

    Munro College 3, Central High 1

    Ocho Rios 2, Garvey Maceo 0

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