CF Montreal hungry for revenge in derby against Toronto FC

MONTREAL — CF Montreal center back Joel Waterman is always motivated when Canadian rival Toronto FC comes to town.

But Saturday’s MLS derby match at Saputo Stadium has “something extra special” after TFC defeated Montreal the last time the teams met.

Toronto handed Montreal a 5-1 defeat at BMO Field on May 18. Four days later, a shell-shocked Montreal lost 2-1 at home to lower-ranked Forge FC in the Canadian Championship, resulting in a fourth straight loss and a low point in the season.

Waterman and his team are out for revenge this weekend.

“We want to put that right. We never want to feel that again against our rivals,” Waterman said on Friday. “We’ve got to do the same with them on our home ground, and we’re going to make sure everyone is ready and that it’s known that it’s TFC, it’s the derby and we’re going to make sure we get three points.”

This time around, Toronto (8-14-4) are in a rut with eight defeats in their last 10 games in all competitions, including their own 2-1 away defeat to Forge in the Canadian Championship. Toronto also lost 3-1 to Inter Miami CF on Wednesday without Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

Meanwhile, Montreal (6-9-9) is unbeaten in its last three games after striker Josef Martinez scored twice in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls.

In addition to the rivalry, Saturday’s game, the last for both teams before MLS goes on a Leagues Cup break until August 24, has major implications for the MLS standings. Both teams are clinging to a playoff spot, with 27 points each.

Toronto is eighth in the Eastern Conference, while Montreal is ninth. However, TFC has nine games left to play, compared to ten for Montreal.

TFC head coach John Herdman said his team must realize they are playing a different team than the one they struggled to beat two months ago.

“We know they’re in better shape than when we last met them. Their squad has gotten deeper, so they’ve been able to get that rotation,” Herdman said. “With the form that Martinez is getting into, that’s going to help them. So for the fans and for the city, it’s an important game, and we recognize that and we’ll address that.

“And for the competition and our goals it is an important game, so if we throw that in there, we have enough motivation to turn things around in this tight transfer window and go for it.”

Wednesday’s draw against the Red Bulls was Montreal’s first game at full strength in months, as Waterman, captain Samuel Piette and midfielder Mathieu Choinière returned from international duty with Canada at the Copa America.

After making history with a fourth-place finish in the Copa alongside TFC captain Jonathan Osorio and winger Richie Laryea in the national team, Piette says it’s a strange feeling to go from teammates to enemies.

“For six weeks we are brothers and we fight on the same mission, and when we return to our clubs we have to fight against each other,” Piette said. “But we know how important this rivalry is, it means a lot to the club, to the fans, to us the players and of course we remember very well what happened when we went to visit them, so we definitely want to take revenge tomorrow.”

Piette said the adrenaline released by the game against Toronto should make up for Montreal’s lack of sleep this week, caused by travel plans that were disrupted after the game in New York.

“Our return flight to Montreal was delayed,” he said. “I got home at 5:30 in the morning. That complicates your sleep schedule.”

Toronto will be feeling the wear and tear of playing five games in July. Herdman said defender Nicksoen Gomis (contusion) and midfielder Deybi Flores (ankle) are questionable, while others are fatigued.

“That’s the gift and the curse of Montreal, they left the Canadian championship early and gave them that little bit of grace to recover a little bit,” Herdman said. “We’re carrying guys with a lot of minutes right now. But what we do know is that we have a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel because after Saturday we get those seven days to build up to our next game.

“The guys should just be able to let it all go. And it’s going to be a mind over matter kind of thing. Real mindset push for the players.”

Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois said recently acquired fullbacks Dawid Bugaj and Tom Pearce are not yet ready for his lineup.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2024.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press