“Thankfully, there have been a few times where when we drop points, the teams behind us have as well. This next game is crucial, so we’ll be going in guns blazing and see where we stand after that.”
Given Montreal’s troublesome type on the highway and Columbus’ repute as probably the most profitable and offensively harmful groups at home, it could be a worst-case situation arrive at Lower.com Field in want of a win.
Portland (11-11-10) is one other group that has begun to peak on the proper second, having gone unbeaten in its final seven MLS video games, profitable 5 of them, and leaping 5 locations within the desk inside only one month.
The Timbers have additionally been far above the league normal for efficiency on the highway throughout that run. In their final 5 away video games, they’ve taken six factors and misplaced simply as soon as. Good outcomes however, their defence on the highway nonetheless leaves a lot to be desired, rating in the direction of the underside of the league.
That may current one other alternative for a stalled Montreal offence to achieve some momentum and convert on its probabilities. Montreal has scored a couple of objective simply as soon as in its final eight video games, which may very well be the distinction ought to it miss the postseason.
“(Portland) has a lot of individual quality and are a very physically team and they’re in the middle of a playoff race just like us,” mentioned head coach Hernan Losada. “They’re also a team that really needs points right now so once again, there are no easy games in MLS.”
The midweek 1-1 draw with Houston was striker Romell Quioto’s first full 90-minute efficiency since March 19 when Montreal beat the Philadelphia Union 3-2 with the Honduran scoring the late winner.
Some key Montreal gamers who missed time as a result of harm, sickness, or suspension are anticipated to be again and available, together with Gabriele Corbo and Jules-Anthony Vilsaint. Aaron Herrera, Róbert Thorkelsson, and Ahmed Hamdi are nonetheless out with an ankle, adductor, and thigh harm respectively.
“It’s been like this for almost the entire season, we lost our best attack er roughly 90 per cent of the year,” mentioned Losada. “This group, with all the ups and downs that we’ve had really deserves to make the playoffs. They fought against so much adversity all season and it’s something I really hope for them and the fans.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 6, 2023.
Elias Grigoriadis, The Canadian Press
