Red Bulls score twice in first half to charge past CF Montreal 2-0

MONTREAL – CF Montreal’s issues at home continued on Saturday with another 2-0 loss at Stade Saputo, this time against the New York Red Bulls.

Despite the result, a Major League Soccer worst 11 points at home, and consecutive losses to two of the three worst road teams in the league, Montreal is trying to focus on the few positives.

“I think we had a very good game. It was a game decided by moments, especially the first goal and if you want to navigate all those moments … you need to be perfect,” said interim head coach Marco Donadel. “It’s clear that we have quality. It’s clear that we can build something. We gave everything on the field, we just need to be a bit more solid in some situations and to finish.” 

Tim Parker and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored first-half goals for New York (12-12-7), as Montreal (5-17-9) continues to get closer to the worst season in their 32-year history.

Both teams opened the game with similar ideas, pressing high up pitch and looking to dominate the ball.

“The way we played today, it’s very positive and encouraging because we are doing what we want to do on the pitch, track the team, play all the wide, create chances,” said Samuel Piette, who made his return last week after being sidelined for more than a month.

“We have three games left and the issue is not to change the striker. I think offensively, with the chances that we create, it’s really positive.”

After trading long stints of possession with nothing to show for it, New York produced the opening goal after 20 minutes. Eric Forsberg’s corner was flicked on by Kyle Duncan into the path of a waiting Parker who headed the ball into the open net.

Not looking to sit on a one-goal lead, the Red Bulls scored a second goal just eight minutes later. Choupo-Moting managed to slip past his defender and slide the ball in-between the legs of Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier.

“This mistake is not going to happen anymore with this mentality, 100 per cent. You’re not going to see (Efrain) Morales, try to anticipate in the box another time, for sure,” said Donadel. “I think games like this are perfect to build for the future. In the locker room, I gave a lot of compliments, but I asked for a lot more hunger.”

Montreal almost responded with a goal of its own from a set piece with a glancing header from Jalen Neal hitting the post just three minutes after the second Red Bulls goal. The home side continued to pile on pressure and scoring opportunities for the remaining 45 minutes but could not solve New York ‘keeper Carlos Coronel.

The second half saw more of the same as New York dropped into a low block for the entire 45-minute frame, absorbing pressure and closing down the game. However, the hosts could not convert overwhelming possession into any kind of breakthrough, with crosses being blocked and Coronel standing tall over every shot.

The game also saw the return of Jalen Neal who had been absent since June 27 with an ankle injury followed by appendicitis. The highly-touted off-season acquisition has missed 21 out of Montreal 37 games in all competitions this season.

“I didn’t feel too out of touch with being on the field with 22 guys. That’s a big thing. Coming back from injury,” said Neal. “Usually you’re only used to being on the training field but then actually being in the game, being around the environment could take a little toll on your focus but I felt perfectly fine out there.”

UP NEXT

New York: Host New York City on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Montreal: Visit Charlotte FC on Saturday, Sept. 27.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2025.