CF Montreal blank Fire 2-0, extend unbeaten streak
CF Montreal extended their unbeaten streak to three with a 2-0 victory over the visiting Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
Josef Martinez and Caden Clark provided the offence for Montreal (8-12-10, 34 points) and keeper Jonathan Sirois made three saves to preserve the clean sheet. Montreal has back-to-back wins at home for the first time this season.
With the victory, Montreal earned a split of the season series. The teams met in Chicago on March 16, with the Fire scoring twice after the 90-minute mark for a 4-3 victory.
Chicago (7-16-8, 29 points) has just one victory in its last seven (1-5-1). The Fire have just one win in their past seven away matches (1-5-1) and have only 11 points on the road this season.
Clark made it 2-0 in the 74th minute, taking a cross from Kwadwo Opoku, who subbed in two minutes prior, and scooping a shot over keeper Chris Brady for his second of the season.
Raheem Edwards nearly gave Montreal a 2-0 lead in the 52nd minute, but his left-footed shot from outside the area curled just wide of the goal.
Clark had an excellent opportunity to double Montreal's lead four minutes into the second half, displaying some fancy footwork in the area but putting his right-footed strike just over the woodwork.
CF Montreal controlled the first-half possession and led 1-0 following the opening 45 minutes.
Montreal opened the scoring in the 21st minute as Martinez took a through ball from Nathan Saliba and chipped it up and over Brady for his sixth goal of the season and 111th career MLS goal.
Next Saturday, CF Montreal plays host to the San Jose Earthquakes while Chicago entertains Toronto FC.
This story was originally published September 21, 2024, 6:50 PM.
